LOASA PENTLANDICA. 
(Mr. Pentland's Loasa.) 
Class. 
POLYADELPHIA. 
Order. 
POLYANDRIA. 
Natural Order. 
LOASACEiE. 
Generic Character.— CaZ?/,a? five-cleft, with the tube 
adhering to the ovarium. Petals five, cucullate, equal, 
spreading, inserted in the top of the tube ; scales five, 
inserted with the petals, furnished with thi-ee sterile 
filaments on the back of each, and girding two subulate 
appendages inside. Stamens indefinite, inserted in the 
top of the calycine tube, disposed in five bundles 
opposite the petals; anthers two-celled, bursting in- 
wardly. Ovarium joined to the calyx. Capsule crowned 
by the lobes of the calyx, three- valved at the top, one- 
celled; placentas linear, alternating with the valves. 
Seeds rngged..— Bon's Gard. and Boto,ny. 
Specific Character. — Plant apparently herbaceous, 
perennial. Stems short, disposed to trail, or climb 
partially. Leaves large, with numerous acute lobes, 
dark green, clothed profusely with stinging bristles. 
Flowers like those of L. lateritia, but darker red. 
Loasa lateritia^ though greatly admired on its first arrival in this country, and 
very extensively grown for two or tliree years while it remained a novelty, was 
not calculated to continue long in popular favour, owing to its straggling nature, 
the dull green colour of its leaves, and the paleness and diminutiveness of its blossoms 
in some situations. At this time, therefore, it is reluctantly admitted into many 
collections ; and, in a few years, will probably be known chiefly from recollection, 
and from being enrolled in catalogues. Not that it is really unworthy of culture ; 
for when treated as a summer climber, in the open air, and intertwined with 
similar plants of tender habits, it is a very pretty object : but it is not one of those 
plants which will be committed to posterity as a standard and sterling ornament 
to our gardens. 
The present new species, which is of Peruvian origin, while possessing several 
features which give it a superiority to L. lateritia^ is not exactly what we should 
describe as a flower of the first class of beauty. It is, notwithstanding, a showy 
plant, and has considerable claims to regard. In the hue of its leaves, the size and 
colour of its flowers, and its less rambling disposition, it is better than L. lateritia ; 
but it wants a greater elegance of growth, which, despite its extreme diffuseness, 
the latter species manifests in a higher degree. 
The unavoidable conclusion from these statements is, that a hybrid between the 
above two species, uniting the climbing character of the one, in a modified manner, 
with the more desirable properties of the other, would be all that could be wished ; 
