1494 



ERANTHEMUM* fcecundum. 

 Ever-blowing Eranthemum. 



DIANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 



Nat. ord. Acanthace;e. Juss. {Introduction to the natural system of 

 Botany, p. 233.) 



ERANTHEMUM.— Supra, vol. 10. fol. 867. 



E. fcecundum ; foliis subsessilibus oblongo-lanceolatis acuminatis integer- 

 rimis junioribus pubescentibus, bracteis minimis, corollae laciniis obtusis 

 tubo arcuato brevioribus, spicis terminalibus subsimplicibus. 

 Caulis fruticosus, erectus, tetragonus, ad nodos tumidus, pedalis sesqui- 

 pedalisvc, parum ramosus. Folia atroviridia, suprct glaberrima, subconcava, 

 brevius petiolata ; subtus petiolis ramulisque pubescentibus. Bractese sub- 

 ulate et sepala pubescentia. Corolla lilacina. 



Our drawing of this species was made in the Garden of 

 the Horticultural Society in September last, from a plant 

 said to have been sent from Brazil by the Right Hon. 

 Robert Gordon. It requires the heat of a stove, and a 

 good deal of atmospheric moisture, when it readily increases 

 by cuttings, and flowers almost all the year round. 



What is most remarkable in it is its unusual disposition 

 to form flower-buds instead of leaf-buds. If any thing- 

 occurs to check its growth, such as a dry atmosphere, or 

 repotting, or exposure to sudden cold, it is directly thrown 

 so abundantly into a blossoming state, that young plants 

 will often commit a sort of vegetable suicide, killing them- 

 selves by their excessive fecundity. 



If well managed, encouraged to form leaf-buds, and 

 maintained in a steady and uniform rate of growth, it forms 

 a neat little bush, the ends of all the branches being covered 

 by short spikes of lilac blossoms. J. L. 



* Literally Love-flower; few of the species deserve the title better 

 than this. 



