78 



and narrowed at the base into a thick channelled petiole about 

 I of an inch long ; there is no trace of stipules. 



The flowers grow in threes, sessile in the axil of the 

 leaves, and are surrounded at their base by several round 

 imbricated scales, as in Camellias ; when expanded they mea- 

 sure two inches in diameter ; Mr. Whitfield states that when 

 decaying they assume a bluish tint, which has probably led 

 to De Beauvois' error in representing them as almost wholly 

 blue in their perfect state. 



The calyx is a thick leathery cup, divided into five ovate 

 segments, having a perfectly valvate a3stivation. 



Within this is placed the corolla, which consists of three 

 distinct rings, each of which is monopetalous. The first ring 

 is apricot colour, divided into five lobes, each of which has 

 seven stiff ribs, between which the texture is membranous ; 

 the lobes have seven broad teeth, corresponding with the points 

 of the ribs, and much curled and crumpled ; by means of the 

 ribs and intervening membrane, this part of the corolla is 

 strongly plaited both before and after expansion ; when fully 

 blown it turns quite back over the calyx, so as to hide it com- 

 pletely. The second ring is very small and thin ; it is in fact 

 a narrow membrane, stationed at the foot of the first ring, 

 and cut into an indefinite number of fine narrow sharp-pointed 

 segments ; this ring was overlooked by De Beauvois. The 

 third ring is rich crimson, according to Mr. Whitfield, mem- 

 branous, but erect, and assuming the form of a cup, whose 

 edge is cut into many fine segments, turned downwards, so as 

 not to be at all conspicuous. De Beauvois makes this a flat 

 star of many points, which is altogether an error. 



The stamens are in number 20, standing erect in the form 

 of another cup, of a rich apricot colour, and unequally united 

 at their base ; they have linear-lanceolate filaments, which 

 are much thinner next the anthers, and are there turned 

 inwards ; the anther itself is oblong, 2-celled, and erect ; it is 

 difficult to conceive how De Beauvois could have made out 

 of this five petal-like filaments, each of which bears two 

 anthers. 



Next the stamens comes a deep fleshy cup or disk, standing 

 as high as the stigma, and having ten sides, of which the 

 narrowest are alternate with the lobes of the stigma, and two- 

 ribbed in the inside. 



The ovary is buried beneath the mass formed by the base 



