10 

 MUTISIA SUBSPINOSA. 



Mutisia subspinosa ; scandens, caule alato, foliis lineari-lanceolatis den- 



tato-spinosis basi decurrentibus apice cirrhosis. (Tab. VII.) 

 Mutisia subspinosa. Cav. Ic. 3. p. 64. t. 495. Willd. Sp. PL v. 3. 



p. 2070. Pers. Syn. PL v. 2. p. 453. Spreng. Syst. VegeL v. 3. 



p. 505. 

 Mutisia sinuata. Cav. Ic. 5. p. 66. t. 499. Spreng. Syst. VegeL v. 3. 



p. 505. 



Hab. Prope villain Vicenziam in Chili. D. Gillies et CruicJcshanks. 



Caulis tripedalis, scandens, flexuosus, angulatus, utrinque late alatus ; 

 alls sinuato-spinosis. Folia subcoriacea, pallide viridia, glabra, 

 lineari-lanceolata, basi latiora, utrinque longe decurrentia, apice 

 sensim in cirrho simplici attenuata, margine subsinuato-dentata, 

 dentibus spinulosis, nunc omnino integerrima, et, non raro, vix 

 decurrentia. Flores magni, speciosi, terminales, solitarii. Invo- 

 lucrum fere bipollicare, squamis imbricatis, inferioribus appendi- 

 culatis, infimis appendicibus reflexis. Flosculi radii pulcherrimi, 

 aurei, apice tridentati. 



This is perhaps the most beautiful of the simple-leaved Afu- 

 tisi(B. It is hardly possible to conceive a more desirable plant 

 for our hothouses ; and it is doubly recommended by the 

 singularity of its foliage. Unquestionably the species, judging 

 from the specimens that have been sent me by Dr. Gillies and 

 Mr. Cruickshanks, is liable to vary in the more or less deeply 

 toothed or even entire margins of the leaves, and in the pre- 

 sence, absence, or breadth of the wings of the stem. Hence 

 I am inclined to think that the M. sinuata of Cavanilles is 

 scarcely distinct from this species. 



Dr. Gillies observes^ that this and all the family of Mutisicc 

 are known in the language of the country by the name of 

 Estrella. 



