P L A T E XXXIX. 



ECHIUM FEROCISSIMUM. 



Prickly Viper s Buglofs. 



• ^ 



CLASS V. ORDER I. 

 PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Five Chives. One Pointal. 



ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Corolla irregularis, fauce nuda. Blossom irregular, mouth naked. 



See Echium grandiflorum, Plate XX. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 



Echium caule fruticofoj ramis, foliifque acu- 

 leatis; floribus fpicatis, violaceis; corollis 

 fub-aequalibus. 



Viper's Buglofs, with a fhrubby ftem; branches 

 and leaves covered with (harp prickles; 

 flowers growing in fpikes, and violet co- 

 loured; blofibms nearly equal. 



REFERENCE TO THE PLATE. 



1. The Empalement. 



2. A Bloiibm cut open, to fliew the infertion of the Chives in the tube. 



3. The Shaft and its Summit, magnified. 



Although there are few fpecies of this genus, but are rough, or hairy; yet this by far exceeds any of 

 them, or almoft any other plant not actually fpiny, for its extreme coarfenefs to the touch; never- 

 thelefs it is a very handlbme fhewy greenhoufe plant, growing to the height of two feet, and blowing 

 freely. It is a native of the Cape of Good Hope, and was introduced by Meffrs. Lee and Kennedy 

 in 1 79-i ; at whofe nurfery it flowered for the firlt time, this year, in the month of July. The only 

 method of propagating the Cape Echiums is by cuttings, and that is done with great difficulty; of 

 courfe, this, as well as the other fpecies, are very fcarce: they delight moll in rich light mould. 



