258 GESNERiACEiE. {Gemeriace(E. 



imbricate in the bud. Stamens 2 or 4, in pairs, inserted in the tube, with the 

 addition sometimes of a fifth barren one. Anthers 2 -celled, or 1 -celled by the 

 confluence of the two. Ovary superior or more or less inferior, 1 -celled, ■s\dth 

 two paiietal entii"e or lobed placentas protruding more or less into the cavity, 

 but not miited in the axis. Ovules numerous. Style simple, with an entire 

 or lobed stigma. Fruit a berry or a capsule. Seeds small, numerous, with 

 or without albumen. Embryo straight. — Herbs, or rarely shnibs or climbers. 

 Leaves opposite or whorled. 



A considerable Order, chiefly tropical, with a very few species from more temperate climates. 

 The Hongkong species belong to the tribe of Cyrtandrece characterized by a superior ovary, 

 and by the seeds containing little or no albumen. This tribe is limited to the Old World, 

 with the exception of a very few American species, whilst the two other tribes, Gesneriece and 

 Besleiiece, are exclusively American. 



Woody climber. Fertile stameus 4. Anther-cells parallel. Seeds 



with an appendage at each end 1. ^schynanthus. 



Herb. Fertile stamens 2. Anther-cells divaricate. Seeds without 



any appendage 2. Chirita. 



1. iESCHYNANTHUS, Jack. 



Corolla veiy oblique or cm-ved, the limb 2-Kpped. Fertile stamens 4, ex- 

 serted. Anther-cells linear, parallel. Stigma undivided. Capsule linear; 

 the placentas meeting, but not united. Seeds pendulous, mth hair-like ap- 

 pendages, 1 only at the lower end, 1 or more at the upper end. — Woody 

 climbers or rarely erect shrubs. Leaves opposite, entii-e, coriaceous, without 

 prominent veins except the midrib. Flowers usually red. 



A considerable genus, limited to tropical Asia, and chiefly found in the Arcliipelago. 



1. ^, bracteatus, JFall. ; DC. Prod. ix. 261. A glabrous woody 

 climber. Leaves ovate, elliptical or oblong, acuminate, 2 to 3 or rarely 4 in. 

 long, narrowed into a short petiole, rather thick ; the lateral veins sometimes 

 faintly visible. Peduncles usually 2 or 3 together in each axil of the ter- 

 minal pail- of leaves, about 1 in. long, bearing 1 to 3 pedicels, with a pair of 

 broadly cordate bracts at theii- base. Flowers pendulous, green, yellowish 

 inside and reddish on the edges (Hance), appearing quite red when dry. 

 Calyx very spreading, deeply 5 -lobed; the lobes oblong, obtuse, about 2 lines 

 long. Corolla about f in. long ; the tube veiy oblique at the mouth, but not 

 curved, scarcely above 4 lines long under the lower lip ; the 2 upper lobes 

 erect, the 3 lower spreading or reflexed. Stamens longer than the corolla, 

 the anthers cohering in pairs by their tips. Capside 3 to 6 in. long. Seeds 

 very minute, with 1 long hair-like appendage at each end. — ^\ acuminata. 

 Wall., DC. Prod. ix. 263 (partly at least). ^JE. ckinensis, Gardn. and Champ, 

 in Kew Journ. Bot. i. 320. 



Trailing on rocks, in ravines. Champion and others. Also in Khasia and Assam. There 

 has been much confusion in the description of this species, owing partly to some loose calyces 

 of jE. Peelii, Hook, fil., having been distributed with some of Wallich's specimens of jE. hrac- 

 teata. De CandoUe also describes the stamens of the latter as being included, owing to his 

 not having seen the flowers fidly developed. The specimens I have seen of JE. acuminata. 

 Wall, certainly belong also to this species, though some may perhaps be the ^. Peelii, which 

 bad got mixed with it. 



