88 CUPHEA C0RDATA. 



flowers of a bright red colour, and of a similar habit to our plant ; there is also a 

 white variety of this species. The S. coronillcefolia has rosy purple blossoms, and 

 is well worth cultivation, but is less generally seen. The S. pallida is an exceedingly 

 pretty variety or species, we are not quite certain which, with pale rose-coloured 

 flowers. All of them are natives of New Holland, the S. Grey ana of the neigh- 

 bourhood of Port Adelaide, and are therefore too tender to bear full exposure ; 

 but they succeed well in the open border during the summer months, where 

 they will flower for a considerable period. The whole are very desirable 

 plants, but the present species is certainly the handsomest of the genus, its long 

 spikes of purple flowers producing an extremely showy effect. They will need to 

 be removed from the ground in winter, but a good, dry cold frame or pit will be a 

 sufficient protection; in the south of Ireland, and other favoured corners of the 

 kingdom, we have no doubt that they would bear exposure, if planted against a 

 wall, and matted up ; we believe galegifolia has been thus grown. As, however, 

 their protection in a frame or cold pit entails no greater amount of trouble than 

 in the case of the Verbena and other plants of that class, we would advise their 

 removal from the ground in autumn. 



They may be increased by seeds, which sometimes ripen, and shonld be sown in 

 a strong heat ; cuttings of the young shoots will also root under a glass, with the 

 assistance of a slight bottom heat, and if struck early in the spring, will form 

 flowering plants the same season. The soil best suited to all the species is a light 

 sandy loam, with a small proportion of heath-mould ; if grown in pots, they should 

 be well drained. The species named, including Greyana, are kept by the London 

 Florists, and probably some of them may be had at the chief provincial nurseries. 



The genus was named in compliment to Isaac Swainson, a patron of Botany and 

 Natural History, who lived in the last century. 



CUPHEA COR DAT A. 



Large red-flowered Cuphea. 

 Linnean Class — Dodecaxdria. Order — Monogtxia. Natural Order — Lythraceje. 



The Cuphea cordata is one of the most remarkable plants of a remarkable genus, 

 and combining, as it does, the botanical features which invest with so much interest 

 this group of plants, with flowers of a very showy character, we have selected it as 

 an illustration of the genus in preference to some of the species which are rather 

 more hardy, and perhaps better known. 



