64 Cuphea viscoeissima. 



of glandular hairs. Leaves numerous, opposite, ovate-oblong, those 

 on the stem about an inch or an inch and a quarter long, situated on 

 pubescent petioles more than half an inch in length, and of a red co- 

 lour. Those of the branches smaller, narrower, and supported bv 

 shorter petioles: all very entire, sub acute, attenuated at base, smooth 

 on both sides, and somewhat scabrous on the margin in the dried 

 plant. ! lowers solitary, and situated in the axilla of each pair of 

 leaves on the stem — lateral and terminal on the branches, and when 

 terminal, crowded in clusters of three and four Peduncles covered 

 with red, viscous hairs, an eighth part of an inch long, inserted under 

 the posterior gibbosity or projection of the base of the calix. Pe- 

 tals generally six, but very often only five in number, and un- 

 equal. The two superior ones the largest, ovate, acute ; the lower 

 ones linear ; all wrinkled, small, of a brilliant red-purple colour, 

 turning a deeper hue in drying. Calix tubulous, dentaled at the 

 mouth, slightly arcuate, at first cylindrical, afterwards urceohite, mem- 

 branaceous, greenish-yellow on the under surface and striated, red 

 above, streaked with darker strieeof the same hue, gibbous at the su- 

 perior part of the base, and invested with a clammy, red pubes- 

 cence ; nectary a reflexed scale within the gibbosity of the calix. The 

 calix becomes an inflated, urceolate, membranaceous, striated cap- 

 sule, which when mature loses much of the red colour, and even as- 

 sumes a yellowish or dull-white hue. This capsule by its matura- 

 tion acquires an elasticity that causes it to burst laterally in a di- 

 rection opposite to the white receptacle, which, thus denuded, exhibits 

 from five to seven lenticular ash-coloured seeds marked longitudi- 



