54 GESNERIA RUPESTRIS. 
Instruct me, guide me, to that heavenly day. 
Thy words more clearly than thy works display ; 
That while thy truths my grosser thoughts refine, 
I may resemble Thee, and call Thee mine." 
Of its native country we are unable to furnish any authentic information, it 
having been received by Messrs. Rollison, Tooting, from the Berlin Botanic Garden, 
in 1835, without any particulars relative to this subject. 
The species we are now noticing, and which is now we believe for the first 
time figured in this country, differs materially from the majority of its allies, in 
producing its leaves and flowers directly and immediately from the root ; and on 
this account it forms a very interesting and attractive feature in a collection of 
stove plants, being admirably adapted for placing on a small stage in the front of 
the stove, or any other conspicuous situation. 
There is not the slightest difficulty attendant on its cultivation, as it merely 
requires the ordinary treatment bestowed on the other species of this genus ; that 
is, to be potted in a rather rich soil, and kept in a humid part of the stove, where 
it should be liberally supplied with water during the summer season, but sparingly 
and cautiously in the winter. It usually produces its flowers in the month of 
July or August, and will sometimes continue flowering till December; but from 
what is at present known with respect to its habits, very little reliance can be 
placed on the time of its flowering, as it is seen exhibiting its elegant blossoms at 
almost any season of the year. 
It may doubtless be propagated from the leaves, although, as^ far as we are 
aware, this assertion has not yet been proved ; it also appears highly probable that 
it will ripen seeds so as to be capable of producing fresh plants from them. 
We are obliged to Messrs. Rollison of Tooting for the opportunity of figuring 
this beautiful little plant, from whom we obtained our drawing in the month of 
August, 1837 ; and we have great pleasure in thus introducing it to notice, as one 
which is highly worthy of extensive cultivation. 
Messrs. Rollison we believe possess a few plants of it, as also does Mr. Young, 
Epsom, from either of which establishments it may be obtained. 
The generic name was given in honour of Conrad Gesner, an eminent botanist 
of Zurich, and this genus is the type of a small natural order. 
The specific name alludes to the locality in which the plant was first dis- 
covered, which we presume was on rocks, or other similar situations. 
