Tas. 4675. 
CENTROSOLENIA BRACTESCENS. 
Bractescent Centrosolenia. 
Nat. Ord. GrsNERACEZ.—DIDYNAMIA ANGIOSPERMIA. 
Gen. Char. (Vide supra, Tas. 4552.) 
CENTROSOLENIA Jbractescens; elata, caule crasso succulento, foliis subeequalibus 
amplis ovatis acuminatis grosse ineequaliter serratis inferne longe attenuatis 
basi perfoliatis, pedunculo brevi axillari solitario multifloro, floribus aggre- 
gatis bracteatis, bracteis 2 exterioribus amplissimis orbiculatis concavis 
brevi-acuminatis serratis, corolla alba limbi lobis integerrimis. 
NavTILocALyx hastatus. Hort. 
This very remarkable plant was received at the Royal Gardens 
of Kew, from Mr. Linden, under the name of Nautilocalye has- 
fatus. Such a name we can find nowhere published, and we 
cannot but consider it inaccurate, inasmuch as there is nothing 
about the calyx in any way representing a Nautilus ; and, if 
meant to refer to the two outer bracteas (and not the calyx), we 
venture to consider they represent a bivalve shell, some kind of 
Pecten or Venus, vather than a Nautilus. We only adopt the 
opinion of Mr. Bentham in considering the genus to which the 
plant belongs not distinct from his Centrosolenia (see our two 
species, figured at Tab. 4552 and 4611 of the present Magazine). 
From those, and indeed from every known species, the present is 
abundantly distinguished by the large size of the leaves, and, in 
proportion, the still larger size and peculiar form of the external 
bracteas, which enclose the axillary clusters of leaves. It is a stove- 
plant, a free flowerer, and its blossoms continue to appear through 
the entire summer months. We have no information respecting 
its native country ; probably it is New Grenada or Venezuela. 
Duscr. Stem’ stout, herbaceous, erect, simple, two feet ligh, 
the upper part clothed, as is most of the younger portion of the 
plant, with deciduous silky down. Leaves opposite, very large 
(almost a foot long), nearly equal, ovate, acummate, coarsely 
OCTOBER lst, 1852. 
