27 
ROELLA ELEGANS. 
(klegant roklla.) 
CLASS. OaDEll. 
PENTANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. 
NATURAL ORDER,. 
CAMPANULACE^l. 
Generic Character. — Corolla funnel-shaped, with a stameniferous tuhe. Stigma bifid. Capsule two- 
celled, cylindrical, inferior. 
Specific Character. — Plant an herbaceous perennial. Stem rounded, erect, much branclied, hairy, as 
well as the leaves. Leaves partially spatulate, sessile, opposite, slightly crenate, acute. Flowers 
solitary, axillary. Calyx five-cleft, segments awl-shaped. Corolla with a five-parted limb, lobes 
rounded, with a slight indentation in the middle, recurved at the margin ; bright blue, with a stain 
of purple in its throat. 
In no subject that we have before had the satisfaction to figure, do we remem- 
ber to have seen so much real elegance and simple beauty. Whether in the 
general contour of the plant, the precise and pleasing conformation of its parts, or 
the attractive colour of its pretty blossoms, it is a truly delightful object, and 
forms an exceedingly ornamental feature in the stove. 
There are few of the characters of a plant which exercise so great an influence 
over the popular suffrage as the hue of the flowers. Almost every admirer of 
these, the most attralctive of natural productions, evinces some partiality to a par- 
ticular tint ; but although this predilection may be as varied as the stains produced 
by nature's freakish limner, there is evidently a strong and prevailing attachment 
to flowers of a blue colour. Without enquiring into the source of this preference, 
which may, however, no doubt be traced to the associations with which we are 
wont to connect all colours, the brilliant and intense blue of the blossoms of this 
interesting plant cannot fail to inspire sensations of both pleasure and admiration 
in the beholder. 
It must greatly increase the value of this species in the estimation of our 
readers, if, like us, they are fascinated with the richness of its flowers, when we 
state, that our attention was first attracted to it about two years since in the stove 
of Messrs. Young, Epsom ; and notwithstanding our subsequent visits to that 
establishment have been monthly, we scarcely remember an occasion on which at 
least one or more specimens were not in flower. 
