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POINSETTIA PULCHERRIMA. 
™ MOST BEAUTIFUL POINSETTIA. 
EXOGENA, . OR , DICOTYLEDONE &. 
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No. 79. 
GENUS. Pornsetria. Gragzam. Invotucrum monophyllum, ovatum 
mdrogynum, basi 5-loculare, extus appendiculo unico nectarifero. ORE 
MONOCHLAMYDER, Wudt{i 
oF W 
DECANDOLLE 
_ pedicellati, nudi; masculi bifariam in’singulis loculis ordinati, monandri; 
feeminei aa centrales, germen es ovulum solitarium singulis lobis. 
- GRraAHAM in 
CHARACTER OF THE GENUS, Piistlchirit INVOLUCRE mono- 
phyllous, ovate, Btre asm (bearing both male and female flowers), 
5-celled at the base, having a single external nectariferous appendix 
near the top. Frownne pedicellate, naked ; the staminiferous flowers 
arranged in two rows in each compartment, each flower consisting of 
one stamen (monandrous); the pistilliferous flowers solitary; ovary 
three-lobed, containing one ovulum in eac 
DESCRIPTION OF THE SPEcrES, PomNSETTIA PULCHERRIMA. An 
erect shrub, branched, branches hollow, when young obscurely four- 
angle d, green, glabrous. LEaves scattered, but occasionally opposite, 
petiolate, petioles from 2 to 14 inch long, those of the upper leaves 
reddish, lamina ovato-elliptical, acute, irregularly lobed, or sinuate, 
mid-rib strong, with numerous nearly parallel lateral ribs, most pro- 
sides. Bracts numerous, somewhat similar to the leaves, but nar- 
rower, more acute, and less notched, of a brick red (occasionally 
vermillion) “a arranges” in a more or a — ee around 
the head of flow subtrifid, 
articulate, yallutiche at length falling off at the joint. Invonvcnes ar- 
ticulated, on short thick foot-stalks, green, ele of orbicular, toothed, 
i ich alternate on the 
_ they street ata edntral elevation, so as to divide the lower part rte the 
involucre into five compartments; erect fimbrie arising from their 
REFERENCE TO THE DissECTIONS. 
articulation, and lobes of one anther. 
1, An involuere laid opens 2, A 
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