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ECIIIUM GIGANTEUM. 
(gigantic viper's bugloss.) 
CLASS. ORDER. 
PENTANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. 
NATURAL ORDER. 
BORAGINEiE. 
Generic Character. — Calyx five-parted. Corolla funnel-shaped or campanulate ; throat wide, naked ; 
segments of the limb unequal in many of the species. Stamens exserted. Style bifid at top, 
- hairy at the base. Nuts four, one-celled, turbinate, gigartoid, scabrous, imperforated at the base, 
fixed at the bottom of the calyx. — Don's Gard. and Botany, 
Specific Character. — Stem branched, hoary at top. Leaves lanceolate, bluntish, three to four inches 
long, and about half an inch broad, tapering at the base into half stem-clasping petioles. Calycine 
segments linear, lanceolate, mucronate, unequal. Corolla white, fading to purplish ; segments 
obtuse, nearly equal. — Don's Gard. and Botany. 
With the great majority of the plant cultivators of this country, the preference 
for particular flowers is almost as fleeting and inconstant as that for dress ; and as, 
in that fickle propensity, the objects which at one time excite the most lively 
interest, and are held in the highest estimation, are after a time displaced by 
other favourites, and sink into apparent oblivion ; till on a sudden they are again 
elevated to their former position, are invested with their previous or even additional 
charms, and carry away the minds of men willing and enthusiastic captives to their 
attractive influence. 
The primary notice and subsequent neglect of the present plant, as well as of 
many of its allies, prove that it has passed through two of the changes above 
delineated ; but with regard to the reaction of public opinion in its favour, we are 
not aware that any such circumstance has transpired ; and, being fully sensible of 
its merits, we have taken the present opportunity of introducing it by a drawing 
to the attention of our readers, as an old plant that is highly worthy of extensive 
cultivation. 
It is somewhat singular, that of the numerous species of Echium which have 
