Mathewsiane. N. O. Vacciniez. 
TAB. CVIII. 
Turpaupia ELLIPTICA. 
Ramis obtuse angulatis, foliis ellipticis obtusis mucronatis 
penninerviis brevissime petiolatis subtus sparsim punctatis, 
racemis densis glomeratis axillaribus terminalibusque, bracteis 
parvis, corollis cylindraceis, staminibus longitudine fere tubi, 
filamentis in urceolum omnino connatis, anther tubis 
longissimis poro terminali dehiscentibus. 
Thibaudia elliptica. Ruiz, et Pav. Fl. Peruv. v. 4. Ic, ined. t. 
_ 383 (absque corollis). 
Has. Cuesta of Huanacabra, Andes of Peru. Mathews. (n, 884.) 
This must be an extremely beautiful plant in a living state 
with its dense clusters of large scarlet flowers nestled among the 
evergreen foliage. I refer it to the 7. elliptica, because 1 think 
the figure, though destitute of perfect flowers, sufficiently accords, 
and I am unwilling to multiply species unnecessarily. In regard 
to the Genus I am quite unable to say whether it should be 
referred to Thibaudia or Ceratostemma ; for I cannot understand 
what are the essentially distinguishing marks between them: 
indeed I am rather inclined to think the two Genera are not 
different. Those who have had the best opportunity of judging 
of them are not agreed as to their generic characters. Jussieu 
was ignorant of the fruit of his Ceratostemma ; and Ruiz and 
Pavon, who have figured 3 species (there are no descriptions to 
the 4th vol.) do not represent the fruit. Kunth says, ** Cerato- 
stemma, Juss. Thibaudia congener, nisi fructus in illa capsularis.” 
Poeppig ascribes to both a berried fruit, but observes under 
Ceratostemma ;—** Genus Thibaudie nimis affine, filamentis 
manifestius in urceolum connatis antherarum basi fixarum loculis 
rimula introrsum laterali dehiscentibus et baccis costatis, qua 
tamen etiam in Thibaudia Quereme Humb. saltem pentagonze 
sunt, zgre distinguendum.” Our present plant would be a 
eratostemma of Poeppig were it not for the anthers opening 
_ by a small pore, instead of a long rima. 
Fig. 1. Flower. f. 2. Corolla and column of stamens laid 
a Z 
