Tas. 4494. 
DIPTERACANTHUS spectaBi is. 
Handsome-flowered Dipteracanthus. 
Nat. Ord. ACANTHACEH.—DIDYNAMIA ANGIOSPERMIA. 
Gen. Char. Cal. equalis, plus minus profunde 5-fidus. Cor. infundibuliformis, 
limbo subzequali 5-fido. Stamina didynama, inclusa, filamentis basi contiguis 
aut conjunctis ; anthere lineari-sagittate, loculis parallelis equalibus muticis. 
Stigma dilamellatum, basi nodulosum. — Capsula basi compressa asperma, ple- 
rumque a medio, raro proprius a basi, 2-8-12-16-sperma. Dissepimentum in 
medio membranaceum, denique maximam partem evanescens. Retinacula wun- 
cinata, preemorsa. Semina orbiculata, compressa, margine tumido discreto cincta. 
—Herbe Americane, Asiatice, pauce Africane et Australasice, repentes vel 
erecta, molliuscule, rarius frutices. Flores aut omnes aut inferiores saltem axillares, 
vel solitarii vel fasciculati, sessiles vel pedunculati, supremt subinde in racemum 
parvibracteatum collecti. Bracteze due majores foliacea, sepe petiolate, subjecte 
calyci vel fasciculo ; in racemis minores et angustiores. Bracteolee vel nulla vel 
exigue. Forme anomale : capsula abortu tetra- vel disperma, ovulis tamen steri- 
libus adjectis semini. Nees. 
Dirreracantuus spectabilis: herbaceus subpubescens, caule quadrangulari 
erecto ramoso, foliis ovatis acuminatis ciliatis basi in petiolum perbrevem 
attenuatis, floribus geminis axillaribus sessilibus ebracteolatis, calycis pro- 
funde divisi laciniis subulatis erectis, corolle (maxime) tubo geniculato- 
curvato inferne angusto’ superne sensim dilatato, limbi (fere 3 poll. lati) 
lobis subeequalibus rotundatis venosis margine crenato, capsulis vix pubes- 
centibus 10—12-spermis. 
_ This is unquestionably the largest-flowered plant of this genus, 
if not of the Order, the corolla being much larger than that of 
D. grandiflorus, Nees (from the same country), of a rich deep 
purple blue colour, marked with dark veins, so that it 1s eml- 
nently worthy of cultivation im every stove. The seeds were 
sent to Mr. Veitch from the Andes of Peru, by Mr. Wilham Lobb, 
and the handsome flowers were in perfection in Mr. Veitch s 
stove in August 1849 ; and to the latter gentleman we are indebted 
for the opportunity of figuring it. ‘The entire absence of bracts 
or bracteoles to the flowers will at once distinguish this from 
D. grandifiorus, and indeed brings it into another division of this 
rather extensive genus, 
FEBRUARY Ist, 1850. 
