1706 



* OEROPEGIA elegans. 



Elegant Ceropegia. 



PENTANDRIA DIGY'NIA. 



Nat. ord. AscLEPiADEiE. R. Br. (Introduction to the Natural System 

 of Botany, p. 210.) 



CEROPEGIA. Supra, vol. 8, fol. 626. 



C. elegans ; volubilis, laevls, radice fibrosa, foliis oblongis acutis, pedunculis axil- 

 laribus 1-2-floris, corollce tubo clavato incurvo basi inflato-ventricoso, liinbo 

 hemispha;rico, laciniis ligulatis longe ciliatis, lobis corona? staminea; exterio- 

 rlbus profunde bipartitis. Wallich. in Bot. Mag. t. 3015. 



A native of the mountains of India called the Nilgherry, 

 and introduced to this country in 1826 by Dr. Wallich. 



It is a small twining plant, with dingy purplish brown 

 stems and leaves, and livid flowers blotched with purple. 

 They have little beauty, except when they are open ; at 

 that time their orifice is closed by a number of long purple 

 bristles, which converge over the centre, and form a sort of 

 natural cJievaux-de-frise, which will prevent both the in- 

 gress and egress of insects. 



Being an East Indian plant, it is usually kept in the 

 stove, where it flowers well enough from May to October, 

 and is easily multiplied by cuttings. It is, however, nearly 

 hardy ; it thrives better in the open border trained to a 

 stick in a sheltered place, and in the winter requires no 

 better protection than a common green-house. 



* From Ki]()OTn'iyioy a candlestick, in allusion to the resemblance borne by 

 the corollas of some species to the branch of an antique candclalira. 



I 2 



