SCYPHANTHUS ELEGANS. 
(Elegant Scyphanthus 
Class. 
POLYADELPHIA. 
Order. 
POLYANDRIA. 
Natural Order. 
LOASACE^l. 
Generic Character.— Calyx deeply five-parted, per- 
manent, equal. Petals five, inserted in the base of the 
calyx on very short claws, concave, equal. Scales 
inserted with the petals, peltate at the apex, lobed, 
three-horned. Stamens numerous, perigynous; the 
ten exterior ones destitute of the anthers ; and these 
are placed by twos opposite the scales, and are longer 
than the rest, which are disposed in five fascicles op- 
posite the petals ; anthers two-celled, erect. Ovarium 
prismatic, siliquiform, crowned by the tube of the 
calyx, three-valved at the apex. Seeds oval, wrinkled.— 
Don's Gard. and Botany. 
Specific Character.— Plant a twining annual. Stems 
dichotomous. Branches beset with retrograde hairs. 
Leaves opposite, pinnatifid; upper ones bipinnatifid, 
hispid: segments obtuse, ciliated. Flowers sessile, 
erect, solitary, yellow. 
Synonyaies. — Loasa volubilis, Gramatocarpus volu- 
bilis. 
The plant now depicted was, it seems, introduced to England from Chili in the 
year 1824 ; and, from inattention to the preservation of its seed, or from other 
causes, was soon afterwards lost to this country. Among some recent importations, 
however, from the same quarter, it has again made its appearance ; and is so very 
ornamental that we wish to bring it at once into favour by inserting a figure, and 
explaining its merits. 
It flowered at the same time, last summer, with Mr. Green, gardener to Sir 
E. Antrobus, Bart., Cheam, and with Mr. Low, of the Clapton Nursery. At the 
former place, it was planted against a south wall, over which it extended its 
branches seven or eight feet, and constituted an exceedingly pleasing summer 
covering. At Mr. Low's, it was grown in pots ; but while some of the plants were 
kept in a greenhouse, others were placed in the open air, and both classes flowered 
with the greatest profusion from the beginning of August to the middle of October. 
The stems are of an elegantly twining character, the leaves ample and agreeably 
pinnatifid, and the flowers large, copious, and of a very lively yellow tint. 
It is described in the catalogues as an annual, and will, most probably, answer 
entirely to that description. It is also stated to be thoroughly hardy ; but as we 
cannot vouch for this, it will be better to raise it in frames, along with the common 
tender annuals, till an opportunity of testing its complete hardihood is afforded. 
