and larger stings, as in the genus Loasa. Leaves opposite, 
remote, palmato-partite, or sometimes pinnatifid, the seg- 
ments oblong, deeply inciso-serrate, nerved. Petioles about 
an inch long. From the axils of the upper leaves, princi- 
pally, the flower-stalk rises, three to four inches long, 
spreading or erect when in flower, deflexed in fruit, curved 
at the very extremity, and bearing there a small bractea. 
Calyx superior, of five, deep, lmear segments, which are 
incurved, and much shorter than the corolla. Petals five, 
spreading, pure white, hairy externally, oblong, ungui- 
culate, remarkably cucullate, compressed and carinate, with 
an apiculus at the extremity, and a large, more or less ser- 
rated, tooth at the margin, below the middle. Stamens in 
five bundles, alternating with the petals. Filaments white: 
Anthers roundish, oblong, yellow. Scales alternating with 
the bundles of stamens, thick, fleshy, very concave, bright 
yellow, with a brilliant red spot on the back, anda red 
thickened margin at the top; the lateral margins beauti- 
fully fringed. From the back of this scale, near the base, 
proceed three, long, yellow sete ; and within each scale are 
situated two linear falcate, aristate bodies, longer than the 
scale itself, and considered to be sterile filaments. Germen 
roundish-oval, spirally striated. Style straight, subulate. 
Fruit fleshy, separating into ten pieces, alternate five the 
largest, and dissepiments; the rest valves, to which are at- 
tached near the inner axis, and partly imbedded in the 
substance, (on each side three,) ovate, black, wrinkled seeds. 
Albumen white, fleshy. Embryo central; radicle superior. 
This very curious plant, in habit and in the structure of its 
flowers, so closely allied to Loasa, yet in the fruit differing so re- 
markably from it, appears to have been introduced into our stoves 
by Jonn Hunneman, Esq. probably from Germany; the German | 
aturalists having received it both from Monte Video on the 
eastern, and from Chili on the western side of South America. It 
is now not uncommon in our collections, requiring the same treat- 
ment as the rest of the Loasrz. We possess specimens from the 
Liverpool, Glasgow, and Edinburgh Gardens. Dre CanpouLe 
thinks it probable that the Loasa contorta of Jussieu should be 
referred to this genus: and I possess from Buenos Ayres, a spe- 
cies gathered by Dr. Ginxies, which I can scarcely distinguish 
from Bu. insignis, except by its much more divided (constantly 
bipinnatifid) leaves. 
a 
Fig. 1. Petal. 2. Bundle of Stamens. 3. Scale with abortive Anthers. 
4. Abortive Anthers removed from the Scale. 5. Section of an unripe 
Fruit. 6. Ripe Fruit. 7. One of the Valves and its accompanying Disse- 
piment. 8, Seed. 9. Albumen. 10. Section of the Albumen to shew the 
Embryo.—More or less magnified. 
