193 
iESCHYNANTHUS RAMOSisSIMUS. 
(mOST^ BRANCHING ^SCHYNANTHUS. ) 
CLASS. ORDER. 
DIDYNAMIA. ANGTOSPERMIA. 
NATURAL ORDER. 
CYRTANDRACE^, 
Generic Char4cter. — Vide vol. v. p. 241. 
Specific Character. — Stem much branched, radicant. Leaves narrowly oblong, acuminated, slightly 
recurved at the extremities, smooth, with small indistinct protuberances along the edges, obscurely 
veined. Umbels terminal, many flowered. Calyoc with five subvilate segments, hairy, yellowish- 
green. Corolla tubular, an inch long, enlarging and curving downwards towards the apex ; upper 
lip with two, lower lip with three obtuse, unequal segments, clothed with short downy hairs. Stamens 
inserted in the tube of the corolla, about half-way down ; filaments longer than the style, slightly 
downy. Stigma clavate, convex at the summit ; style much thicker and more downy than the 
filaments. Seeds sometimes terminated by two bristles at their apex, these uniting into one towards 
the base. 
By a slight inspection of tlie accompanying plate, most of our readers will 
probably be enabled to remember the superb species of this genus, a figure of which 
adorned our pages some months since. Lest memory should in any case fail, we 
beg to refer them to page 241 of the preceding volume, because, from the general 
resemblance of the two species, it is important, where living specimens are not 
possessed, that the drawings should be brought together, and the particular 
characters of each plant accurately noted. 
It is unnecessary to mention that M. grandiflorus is far superior to our present 
subject, and that, consequently, it is useful to be able to recognise and distinguish 
each of them, both for the purposes of purchase, and also to prevent disappointment 
should only JE. ramosissimus be received. The latter is, however, apart from its 
more showy congener, a highly ornamental and valuable plant, possessing, in the 
richness and profusion of its flowers, the vivid verdure of its elegant and shining 
foliage, and its graceful mode of growth^ many real and sterling attractions. 
Compared with M. grandiflorus^ it will be seen that its foliage is much narrower, 
smaller, and of a deeper green, while the flowers are likewise more diminutive ; 
