27 



ECHITES atropurpurea. 

 Dark-purple Echites. 



PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 

 Nat.ord. Apocynace^. 

 ECHITES. L. 



E.a^ropwrpwrm; glabra, folns petiolatis ovatis acutis, pedunculis bifloris 

 axillanbus fohis longioribus, sepalis lineari- ovatis, coroU^ glabrae lobis 

 tnangularibus undulatis patentissimis, disco biglanduloso 



h. atropurpurea. Lindleij itt Paxtons Magazine of Botany 1842 



This is a handsome greenhouse climber, introduced from 

 ^outh Brazil by Messrs. Veitch of Exeter. It is nearly allied 

 to the E. Martiana, from which it differs in having smooth 

 shoots and leaves, and a corolla whose lobes are not crisp. 



We find the following popular account of the plant in 

 raxton s Magazine of Botany. 



" The blossoms of this plant are borne on long and g-race- 

 |ui axillary peduncles, two or more appearing on each. Thev 

 have a tube nearly two inches in length, expanding, about half 

 way from the base, into a wide throat, which has an ample 

 and spreading limb, an inch and a half across. In the earlier 

 stages of their development, they have a pleasant odour, which 

 enhances the interest of the species. 



"It vyas exhibited by Messrs. Veitch at one of the ^reat 

 meetings in the Horticultural Society's gardens, and a Banksian 

 medal was awarded for it. The dark tint of its flowers seems 

 to contrast finely with the lightness and airiness of its habit. 



"In cultivation, it requires the temperature of the stove, 

 and may be trained to the rafters of the house, or to a wire 

 trellis spread entirely over the roof. If the branches are in- 

 term^mgled with those of E. suberecta and Stephanotis flora- 

 bundus, their flowers make a very harmonious and delightful 



