266 THE GESNERA. 



all round, the sepals the same, and the divisions scarcely- 

 perceptible . The mouth of the tube should be perfectly 

 round, and the sepals be blunt and smooth, forming another 

 circle. 



THE GESNERA. 



A family of beautiful stove-plants, that, by regulating 

 their season of rest, may be brought into bloom at any 

 season. The treatment is the same as prescribed for achi- 

 menes and gloxinias, except that much syringing should be 

 avoided. The foliage of many species is beautifully marked, 

 and looks like velvet : the flowers are in long spikes, scarlet, 

 red, or yellow, and often finely marked. They are propa- 

 gated as gloxinias. There are about fifty species, and 

 many fine varieties. 



The families of Tydea, Mandirola, Lochiera, and 

 SciADOCALYx, are only sections of achimenes, and need 

 the same treatment. 



