I saw this charming plant blossoming in great perfection at 
Kew Gardens in October 1826, and thence I have been favour- 
ed with the specimen from which the accompanying drawing 
was taken. The seeds were sent by Mr Bowie from the in- 
terior of South Africa ; and having been first discovered by 
that indefatigable botanist (in 1818) in the forest lands of 
George Rex, Esq. at the Knysna, he is anxious it should 
bear the name of that gentleman, " as a small memorial of the 
great hospitality and friendship he enjoyed, whilst travelling 
in South Africa, and to whom all the late scientific travellers, 
as well as himself, have been under great obligations, for so 
readily entering into their plans, and furthering their views." 
I forbear making any observations on the genus of this re- 
markable plant, because Mr Aiton informs me that Mr 
Brown has shewn an interest in it ; and his ideas respecting 
it will, I trust, be one day given to the public. It increases 
most rapidly by seeds ; and so desirable an inhabitant of our 
greenhouses must doubtless soon become common. 
My object in figuring it at this time, is to secure to Mr 
Bowie the credit of discovering so interesting a plant^ and to 
Mr Aiton that of being its first cultivator. 
Fig. 1. Stamens. Fig. 2. Anthers. Fig. S. Pistil. Fig. 4. Stigma. Fig. 5. 
Section of a young capsule. Fig. 6. Ripe capsule, natural size. Fig. 7- 
Portion of a seminal receptacle. Fig. 8. Seeds All but Fig. 6. more 
or less magnified. 
