55 



ACHIMENES hirsuta. 

 Hairy Achimencs. 



DIDYNAMIA ANGIOSPERMTA. 



Nat. ord. Gesnerace^. 



ACHIMENES. Botanical Register, 1842. /o/. 19. 



A. hirsuta ; caulibus hirsutis paniculatis bulbilliferis, foliis cordatis serratis 

 hirsutis, pedunculis solitariis foliis sequalibus, corollse limbo piano laci- 

 niis rotundatis serrulatis. Lindl. in Bot. Reg. 1843. misc. 103. 



This pretty plant forms another acceptable addition to the 

 charming genus Achimenes, and will probably become almost 

 as great a favourite as any of the species. In habit it bears 

 the nearest resemblance to A. pedunculata, and like that 

 beautiful thing is disposed to bear little bulbs in the axils of 

 its leaves and branches. 



The history of its introduction is an instructive lesson to 

 importers of plants. How often do we find gardeners throw- 

 ing away the moss, and mould, and fragments that remain 

 after every foreign case of plants is examined, and the prin- 

 cipal part of the contents removed ; and how often perhaps do 

 they thus reject the most interesting species, for if accident is 

 the fertile mother of new inventions, so is she also of new 

 introductions. Canna iridiflora was obtained from seeds acci- 

 dentally found in an old herbarium ; several Orchidaceous 

 plants have been picked oif dried specimens ; and this Achi- 

 menes adds another to the list. It was hidden among a mass 

 of Orchidaceous plants imported from Guatemala, and sold by 

 auction a few months ago; Mr. Henderson, of the Pine Apple 

 Place Nursery, accidentally detected it ; and thus a plant, 

 which must have been often sent home with fruitless care on 

 former occasions, was brought to our gardens without any 

 attention whatever. 



November, 1843. 2 a 



