. 
The species inhabits the vicinity of Pekin. We possess an 
original specimen from Bunge gathered there, and another from 
Mr. Fortune (his 7. 33). We could have wished Boissier had 
retained Bunge’s generic name, Ceratostigma, founded on this 
species, deriving that name from the minute ramifications of 
the stigmas resembling horns, while in the original Valoradia 
(established by Hochstetter in 1842) the glands are entirely 
sessile. On such grounds we should have to sacrifice a multi- 
tude of existing names. 
Descr. Foot perennial. Stem herbaceous, varying from six 
inches to a foot and a half high, flexuose, angled, and slightly 
setose, red, much and densely branched; éranches upright. 
Leaves alternate, spreading, obovate, penninerved, obtuse, at- 
tenuated at the base, the lower ones almost petioled : the upper 
_ ones smaller and quite sessile, all ciliated. Flowers collected 
several together, into bracteated sessile, axillary or terminal 
heads. Bracteas scariose, tinged with red, cuspidate, ciliated 
along the back and at the margin. Calyz longer than the bracts, 
slender, tubular, glabrous, furrowed, terminated by five, subu- 
late, appressed ¢eeth. Corolla hypocrateriform : the éwbe longer 
than the calyx: the Zimb bright purple-blue: the Ziméd regular, 
cut to its base into five heart-shaped, spreading /oées, slightly 
plaited and minutely toothed. Stamens monadelphous at the 
base. Anthers linear, exserted. Ovary oblong. Style gla- 
brous, shorter than the stamens. Stigmas five, linear, beset on 
on the upper side with prominent clavate or slightly stipitate 
glands. W.J. H. 
Cur. Although this plant is of but recent introduction, yet 
its rapid increase by cuttings has made it already very common 
in the gardens of this country. Owing to some circum- 
stances connected with its introduction and dissemination, its 
cultivation and its merits as an ornamental flowering plant have 
been the subject of much discussion with cultivators, perhaps 
more than it deserves; for although it recommends itself to 
notice by its pretty blue flowers, yet, considering its relationship 
and the conditions under which it flourishes in its native country, 
we do not think it will give satisfaction as an ornamental plant 
to the generality of cultivators. We learn that it is a native of 
China, and has been observed ‘as far north as Pekin ; but that the 
plant was found in a wild state on the city walls of Shanghae, 
“growing out of the stone-work,” and “on the raised ramparts,” 
‘where it is said to be very ornamental. We naturally pre- 
sume that a stone wall built by the hand of man is not its 
original place of growth ; but as it has there become naturalized, 
we may infer that its natural habitat is in dry rocky places 
Subject to great summer heat, and enduring a considerable de- 
