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OF THE GENUS GLOXINIA. 
This most elega it family stands pre-eminent in the natural order GesnericB. 
A few years only have passed by, since this order comprised two genera only, 
namely, Gesnera and Gloxinia. Now, subsequently to 1820, it has received four 
additional families, some of which have been separated from Gesnera or Gesneria. 
r i he six genera now ranking in order are — 
1. Gesnera — the type; named after the Swiss botanist, Gesner. Almost the 
whole of the numerous species have been introduced since the year 1815. 
2. Gloxinia. — Of this fine genus, one only, maculata, or the spotted-stalked, 
was known in the eighteenth century ; all the others are new. The name is derived 
from the French botanist, Gloxin. 
3. Sinningia. — So called from a gardener of the name of Sinning : it is a new 
genus, the first species of which was introduced in 1820. 
4. Codonophera. — From Kwdiov, a bell, or trumpet-mouth. Removed by Dr. 
Lindley from Gesnera. 
5. Pentaraphia. — Literally means five needles, one species; formerly Gesneria 
ventricosa ; a Jamaica plant, 1823. 
6. Besleria. — From Besler, a German apothecary. This genus is old; it 
formerly belonged to Ecrophularince. 
These species are almost all natives of hot, tropical climates, and therefore rank 
as stove plants. They have many characters in common, and may perhaps be all 
successfully grown in decayed wood, or the vegetable earth of leaves and sticks, 
blended with a little sharp sand. 
Gloxinia is found in the fourteenth class, second order, of the Linnaean System 
of Botany — Didynamia Angiospermia. The stamens are four, unequal in size, 
that is, two are shorter than the other. The calyx is five-leaved, fleshy, the 
terminations pointed. Corolla bell-shaped, or closely resembles that of the fox- 
glove ; its limb, or border, unequal, oblique. Filaments of the stamens inserted 
in the receptacle. 
Gloxinia speciosa (specious or showy Gloxinia), has been cultivated since 
1815, and is a native of South America. There are two varieties, one with 
beautifully blue, rather pendulous blossoms, tinged with purple, very glossy, or 
with the peculiar blush of silk velvet ; another with white flowers — the leaves are 
large, oval, bordered, and notched (crenate). 
Gloxinia caulescens. — From Pernambuco, in 1825. This species differs from 
the last in having a stem, which rarely, however, attains the height of a foot ; but 
the leaves are produced from it, and these are of a darker green, more rigid and 
firm than those of the speciosa; the flowers are larger, of a more intense blue,, 
relieved with purple. They are most elegant. 
Gloxinia hirsuta (hairy Gloxinia). — A lovely little plant, with downy stalks 
and leaves, the tint of which is olive-green. The flowers are more numerous, of 
