[Plate 58.] 



THE GESNERA-FLOWERED SAGE. 



(salvia gesnebjeflora.) 



A M dgmficeni Greenhouse Herbaceous Plant, from Central America, belonging to the Order of 



Labiates. 



Specific Character. 



Sect . — Calospb ace, longifloroe. — Bentkam. 



THE GESNERA -FL 0 WERED SAGE. — The habit quite that of S. July ens ; but the upper lip of the corolla flatter 

 and less shaggy, the tube longer, the style less feathery, the flowers far more abundant and conspicuous. J 



Salvia Gesnerasflora of the Gardens. 



THERE is great difficulty in saying in what precise particulars this differs botanically 

 from S. fulgens or Cardinalis ; the^ habit, foliage, and mode of flowering are the 

 same in both, nor is there any difference in the flowers beyond what is pointed out in 

 the foregoing description. Nevertheless the two plants are in a horticultural point of 

 view quite distinct. This flowers all through the autumn and winter; S. fulgens is a 

 summer species. The latter, handsome as it sometimes becomes, is no favourite on account 

 of its incurably bad habit of becoming shabby and casting its blossoms. This, on the 

 other hand, is of vigorous constitution, holds its flowers as well as a Gesnera, after which 

 it is happily named, and has a fine rich brilliant green foliage. 



The plant from which the accompanying figure was taken was struck from a cutting 

 obtained at Syon, where it had been raised from Mr. Pin-die's Colombian seeds. It 



