G7 



DIPLACUS PUNICEUS. 



(Crimson Diplacus.) 



LINNEAN SYSTEM. NATURAL OEDER. 



DIDYNAMIA ANGIOSPERMI A, ' '* SCROPHULARIACE^E. 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Diplacus. (Nutt.) Calyx prismaticus apice 5-fidus. Corolla ringens 5-fida, lobis sub- 

 jequalibus plerumque emarginatis. Stigma bilamellatum. Capsula lineari-oblonga, bilocularis. 

 Placenta (sive receptaculum seminis) lata, demum bipartita, adnata. Semina utrinque subulata. 

 Frutices Californicse, Mimulo proximse. Folia opposita plerumque viscosa.— Nutt. 



Calyx prismatic, divided into parts at the apex. Corolla gaping, divided into five parts, 

 mostly unequal, emarginate. Stigma formed of two plates. Capsule linear, oblong, 2-celled. 

 Placenta, or the receptacle with the seeds, broad, afterwards divided into 2 parts, adnate. Seeds 

 on each side, subulat e. Shrubs inhabitants of California, and near to the genus Mimulus. Leaves 

 opposite, for the most part clammy. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 

 D. puniceus ; fruticosus ramosissimus viscosus pubescens; foliis lineari-lanceolatis subconnatis 

 serratis subacutis ; Calycis laciniis insequalibus acuminatis ciliatis ; corollis puniceis lobis 

 emarginatis. 



Shrub much branched, viscid, pubescent; leaves linear, lanceolate, subconnate, serrated, 

 somewhat acute, divisions of the calyx unequal, acuminate, ciliate ; corolla crimson, lobes notched 

 at the end. 



Diplacus puniceus. — Nutt. 



Descb. Stem shrubby, round, 3 feet or more high. Leaves opposite, narrow, lanceolate, 

 very clammy, pubescent, serrated, somewhat connate at the base. Flowers solitary, axillary. 

 Corolla about two inches long, of a beautiful bright crimson, but which soon fades : it is divided 

 into five parts, which are somewhat unequal, each division is notched at the end. Calyx angled 

 about half the length of the corolla, clammy, divided into five unequal parts, ciliate, the upper 

 part the largest. Stamens 4, two long and two short, pubescent, acuminate, joined to, and included 

 in, the throat of the corolla. Anthers 2-celled, dehiscing lengthwise, connective thickened at 

 the base. Pollen smooth, circular, having a transparent point in the centre. Style longer than 

 the corolla (exserted), pubescent. Stigma composed of two thin heart-shaped plates, the upper 

 side of which is very hirsute. Ovarium narrow, oblong, smooth, two or many seeded. Seeds 

 linear, oblong. 



This may be truly said to be an exceedingly handsome plant, producing its 

 flowers freely, which are of a deep and brilliant crimson. , It may be considered 



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