167 



ARISTOLOCHIA HYPERBOREA. 



{Northern Aristolochia.) 

 LINNEAN SYSTEM. ^ ^ NATURAL ORDER. 



GYNANDRIA HEXANDRIA. ARISTOLOCHIA. 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Aristolochia (Lin.) Perianthium coloratum, tubulosum, basi ventricosnm, apice dilatatum, 

 in ligulam extensam. Antherm sex subsessiles, substigmate. Stylus vix ullus. Stigma sex- 

 partitum. Gapsula sex locularis. — {Brown. Prod. Flor. Nov. Holland, p. 349.) 



Perianth colored, tubulose ventricose at the base, dilated at the apex into an extended ligula. 

 Anthers six, nearly sessile, situate under the stigma. Style scarcely any. Stigma divided into 

 six parts. Capsule six-celled. 



Aristolochia hyperborea. — Hort. 



Descb. — Stem twining. Leaves very large, cordate-reniform, smooth, with a very open 

 sinus at the base. Flowers very large, of a pale yellow colour, variously marked and spotted 

 with brownish purple, the tube obovate, limb 2-lipped ; upper lip short, ovate, acute ; lower very 

 long, inflated at the base, and terminating in a broad, plaited, membranous expansion. 



The plant from which our drawing was taken is in the collection of Mr. 

 Knight, of King's Road, Chelsea, in whose establishment it is cultivated under 

 the name here given. It will be perceived by the figure, that when our artist 

 commenced the drawing, the lower part of the flower or ligula had begun to 

 shrivel, and the whole flower was quite decayed by the time our drawing arrived. 

 We therefore have had no opportunity of examining it, and are consequently 

 prevented from giving it a specific character ; but judging from the drawing, and 

 the figure of Aristolochia cymbifera as figured in the Botanical Register, vol. 18, 

 it appears to us to come so near to that species that we have strong doubts of its 

 being really distinct. Still, however, it may, if attentively examined, present 

 some points of difference sufficient to constitute it a variety, if not a distinct 

 species. Mr. Knight is doubtful from whence he received it, but he is inclined 

 to think that it is a native of the northern districts of India. But notwithstand- 

 ing the doubt respecting its specific identity, as well as the country of which it is 

 a native, there can be no doubt of its being a very handsome plant. Indeed the 

 large and singularly shaped flowers, and their curious and elegant markings, 

 •together with the splendid foliage, must claim admission for it into every collec- 



