Stipules subulate ; those of the petiole caducous, of the 

 leaflets (each pair of which have two) permanent. Racemes 

 axillary; by the time the flowers have fallen, considerably 

 longer than the leaves, sometimes twice their length. 

 Flowers numerous, scattered, before expansion imbricated, 

 large, dark purple. Bracteas one-flowered. Legumen 

 cylindrical, smooth, reflexed, six- to twelve-seeded. Roxb. 

 MSS. 



To the preceding account may be added, that the shrub 

 grows very large, and when in full blossom is highly orna- 

 mental on account of its numerous long spikes of dark 

 purple flowers. It is common in the forests of Nepal, and, 

 according to Dr. Roxburgh, was introduced thence into 

 the Calcutta Botanic Garden in 1802, by Dr. Hamilton. 



Dr. Roxburgh observes that, e( the same plant has been 

 reared from American seeds, sent without a name from 

 Philadelphia, by Mr. William Hamilton." It is very 

 possible that the Nepal plant may have been introduced 

 into Mr. Hamilton's garden at Philadelphia, and acci- 

 dentally returned again to Calcutta ; or that Dr. Roxburgh 

 may have mistaken a nearly allied species for his I. atro- 

 purpurea; but the former assumption is the most probable. 

 Wallich. 



Fig. 1. Flower, magnified. 2, 3. Fruit, nat. size. 



