THE GLOXINIA FAMILY. 261 



27. Moth-mullein — {Verbdscum Blattdria.) 

 Spontaneous in gardens at Whitefield, 1858. (J. P.) " Near Ather- 

 low, Cheshire." (B. G.) FI. July, August. Biennial. 



E. B. vi. 393. 



Mimulus luteus or Langsdorjii, which, like the stramonium and other foreigners, 

 finds our English soil congenial, is fast assimilatifig itself with the aborigines in 

 many places, and has selected, among others, the banks of the Goyt in Marple 

 Valley. Thrown or astray from a garden in the first place, and then carried along 

 by the stream, it seems likely to take up a permanent place there, being already 

 in three or four different spots. It is an elegant and interesting plant, and will 

 be a great acquisition to the Flora of our stream-sides. The species of Mimulus 

 are mostly thus disposed to colonization ; even the common musk-plant, or 

 Mimulus moschatus, springs up by waysides at Prestwicb, where garden frag- 

 ments and refuse have been scattered. (.J. P.) 



Ehinanthus major is reported " near Northen." (B. G.) It may be well for 

 botanists to look there for the R. angustif alius . (E. B., Supp. ii. 2737.) 



The beauty of the flowers of this family gives it an important place in the 

 garden, Veronicas of many species are among the earliest, accompanied in- 

 doors by the charming Calceolarias, with large panicles of pocket-shaped blos- 

 soms, tinted and speckled with almost every colour except blue. Summer brings 

 many kinds of Linaria, and that remarkable flower, the snapdragon, or Antir- 

 rhinum ma jus, (E.B. ii. 129.) along with the white foxglove, the yellow Celsias, 

 different species of Mimulus or monkey-flower, and Chelones, with panicles of 

 scarlet. Most of these, along with the Penstemons, which have a fifth but anther- 

 less stamen, last onwards through the autumn, and some to the very close of the 

 season. The half-hardy annuals likewise contribute much to garden ornament, 

 especially those of the genera Schizanlhus and Collinsia. One of the most 

 striking plants of the family is the Hemimeris or Alonzoa, the corollas of which 

 are vermilion aud black. The spcL-ies of Mimulus are remarkable for having the 

 stigma composed of two plates or thin liiJs, which stand apart until touched, 

 when they rapidly draw together. The common musk-plaut is the Mimulus 

 moschatus. None of the family, though there are so many in cultivation, are 

 grown for purposes of domestic economy. 



LXXV.— THE GLOXINIA FAMILY. Gesneracece. 



The plants of this family are in England almost entirely for the hot- 

 house, which they greatly adorn with their brilliant and plentiful 

 blossoms. Nottting is finer to behold, in its season, than an Achimenes 

 longijlora, or an Achimenes picia, the former deep purplish-blue, the 

 latter scarlet and orange. They are natives of the tropical parts of 



