HOITZIA COCCINEA. 



This is certainly a very splendid species when grown well and in full flower. 

 The colour of the flowers is so peculiarly delicate and beautiful, that, notwith- 

 standing our artist has taken every pains to obtain the right tint, he has not 

 succeeded exactly to our satisfaction ; nor do we conceive it possible to imitate 

 the transparent and delicate hue of these flowers. This is a Mexican genus, of 

 which five species are known. H. coccinea and H. ccerulea inhabit mountains at 

 a considerable elevation, but the habitat of the other three species is not stated. 

 It appears to have been introduced in the year 1824 ; but we are not aware 

 that it has been figured in any English botanical publication. 



This genus has no known medicinal properties. 



Hoitzia coccinea will succeed well either in a cool stove or warm green- 

 house. The soil should be loam mixed with a little peat and sand. It is readily 

 increased by cuttings of the young wood at any season of the year. This species 

 is inclined to grow rather tall, it ought therefore to be frequently stopped, so as 

 to make it bushy. This operation should be performed previous to November, 

 for the purpose of allowing the plant to make good flower-spikes, which are 

 produced in the winter and spring months. » 



Our drawing was taken from a finely-flowered specimen in the collection of 

 Mrs. Willmore, of Strawberry Vale, near Birmingham, whose collection of fine 

 healthy plants is deserving of notice. 



The generic name is from Hoitzit, its name in Mexico ; the specific name, 

 coccinea, has reference to the scarlet colour of the flowers. 



Fig. 1, corolla laid open, to show the insertion of the stamens ; 2, style and 

 germ invested by the calyx. 



