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OSBECKIA CANESCENS, Meyer. 



(Hoary Osbeckia.) 



LINNEAN SYSTEM. ^ ^ NATURAL ORDER. 



OCTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. MELASTOMACE^E. 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Osbeckia. (Lin.) Calycis tubus ovatus ssepius setis stellatis, aut pube stellata vestitus ; lobi 



4- 5 persistentes aut decidui ; appendices inter lobos extus ortse forma et magnitudine varise. 

 Petala 4-5. Stamina 8-10 filamentis glabris, antheris subsequalibus breve rostratis connectivo 

 basi breve biauriculato. Ovarium apice setosum. Capsula 4-5 locularis. Semina cocbleata. 

 Herbce aut ssepius suffratices, Americani, Africani, aut Asiatici. Folia integerrima, 3-5 nervia. 

 Flores terminales. — (Decand. Prod. vol. iii. p. 138.) 



Tube of the calyx ovate, frequently clothed with starry bristles, or a starry pubescence, 

 divided into 4-5 lobes, which are either persistent or deciduous, and having between the lobes 

 externally appendages which vary in size and form. Petals 4-5. Stamens 8-10, filaments 

 smooth, anthers somewhat equal, shortly beaked, and having the connective shortly two-eared 

 at the base. Ovarium bristly at the apex. Capsule 4-5 celled. Seeds shell-shaped. Her- 

 baceous plants, or frequently suffruticose ones, inhabitants of America, Africa, or Asia. The 

 leaves are entire, from 3 to 5 nerved. Flowers terminal. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 



O. Canescens; caulis suff'ruticosus, quadrangularis ; ifoliis decussatis subsessilibus ovatis 



5- nerviis basi cordiformibus ; floribus racemosi-paniculatis, petalis purpureis obcordatis emargi- 

 natis; calycis lobis persistentibus, appendicibus subulatis integerrimis ; connectivis curvatis 

 p urpureis basi luteis. 



Stem suffruticose and square ; leaves decussate, somewhat sessile ovate 5-nerved heart-shaped 

 at the base ; flowers paniculately racemose ; petals purple, inversely heart-shaped, notched at the 

 end ; lobes of the calyx persistent, appendages subulate entire ; connective curved purple, yellow 

 at the base. 



Osbeckia canescens.' — Meyer. 



Descb. — Stem somewhat shrubby, square, unbranched, about two feet and a half high, 

 covered thickly with a stellate pubescence, giving it a roughness which is very perceptible to the 

 touch. Leaves ovate, heart-sharped at the base, opposite decussate, shortly petiolate and densely 

 covered on each side with the same stellate pubescence which is found on the stem, prominently 

 from 5 to 7 nerved. Flowers shortly pedunculate, large and showy, of a delicate and pleasing 

 purple colour arranged in a paniculate raceme. Bracts large, pinkish, half the length of the 

 calyx, pubescent, concave, half enclosing the alabastrum, very deciduous. Petals four inversely 

 heart-shaped, notched at the end, of short duration. Calyx covered with a stellate pubescence, 

 divided into four parts, each part regular ovate acuminate, persistent ; alternate with the divisions 



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