scarlet, with a dark spot in the centre, from which 
branch numerous lines of the same colour; the three 
lowermost ligulate, of a lighter colour. Filaments 10, 
united at the base, 7 only bearing anthers. Anthers 
incumbent, ligulate, 2-celled, bursting at the front to 
discharge the pollen. Pollen granular, of a brown 
orange colour. Germen villous. Sti/le red, slightly- 
hairy. Stigmas 5 re vol ate. 
This beautiful plant is the true P. ignescens in a 
perfect state, which bears seven fertile anthers, and 
produces perfect seeds. The variety /3. which is now 
common in our collections, never produces perfect 
anthers, and the flowers are very small in comparison 
to the present, which is a more robust growing plant, 
and better deserving a place in any collection; it is a 
very abundant flowerer, continuing in bloom a great 
part of the year: a mixture of sandy loam and decayed 
leaves or light vegetable mould suits it best, and being 
of rather a succulent nature it requires but little water; 
nothing will injure it more than overwatering it. Cut- 
tings root as free as any other kind, the younger the 
better, planted in the same kind of soil ; very little 
water must be given them, or they will be apt to rot. 
P. ignescens was first raised from seed by Sir R. Hoare, 
but whether it be of hybi-id origin or a real species, we 
are not certain. Mr. Loddiges mentions it as a native 
of the Cape of Good Hope ; by others we have been in- 
ibrmed it was raised from the seed of V.fulgidum, im- 
pregnated with some other species. 
Our drawing of this beautiful plant was taken at 
the nursery of Mr. Colvill, the only place where we 
have seen it in a perfect state. 
