ACHIMENES MULTIFLORA. 
(Many-flowered Ac-himeues.) 
Class. 
DID YN AMI A. 
Order. 
ANGIOSPERMIA. 
Natural Order. 
GESNERACEiE. 
Generic Character. — See p. 145 of the present 
Volume. 
Specific Character. — Plant a tuberous-rooted peren- 
nial. Leaves opposite, shortly petiolate, ovate, rather 
coarsely serrate. Peduncles axillary, solitary, brac- 
teated, three-flowered. Calyx half-superior, five-cleft, 
the segments broadly linear. Corolla nearly two inches 
long, deep blue within, paler without, especially the 
tube, which is funnel-shaped, curved downwards, 
slightly gibbous at the base ; limb oblique, of five nearly 
equal rounded lobes, strongly fimbriated at the margin. 
Stamens didynamous, with the rudiment of a fifth. 
Anthers cordate, united into a cross. Germen ovate, 
the free part hairy, surrounded by an entire annular 
disk. Style about equal in length Avith the tube. Stigma 
clavate, bifid. 
Except the statement respecting its habitude, we have taken the above 
description from the Botanical Magazine, where the plant is said to be " an annual, 
according to Mr. Gardner." We learn, however, that it is as much a perennial as 
A. longiflora, or A. coccinea, as it has been multiplied as readily as those species by 
the numerous tubers which it produces from its roots. In this character, therefore, 
it has proved to be much more valuable than was expected ; and, on account of its 
great beauty, it will most likely soon be as much grown as the now common 
A. longiflora. 
Sir W. J. Hooker mentions, in the work previously referred to, that it " inhabits 
dry banks in woods, in the Serra de Santa Brida, and near Villa de Arayos, in the 
province of Goyaz, Brazil." The first appearance of its flowers in this country was, 
we believe, in the Glasgow Botanic Gardens. In the month of June of the present 
year, it also bloomed abundantly at the Royal Botanic Gardens of Kew. A short 
time subsequently, it blossomed well in the nursery of Mr. Glendinning, at Turnham 
Green, and our artist prepared the drawing now given from this place. 
Writing to us concerning it, Mr. Glendinning says, that it seems more impatient 
of moisture than any of the other species ; a circumstance which is readily accounted 
for by reference to its native locality. Keeping this in mind, it should be potted in 
a particularly well-drained earth, and ought not to have too much pot-room. The 
common mixture of sandy loam and heath-soil will be sufficient for its culture ; but 
