RAPHISTEMMA PULCHELLUM. 
(Pretty Kaphistemma.) 
Class. Order. 
PENTANDRIA. DIGYNIA. 
Natural Order. 
ASCLEPIADaCEjE. 
Genertc Character. — Corolla campanulate ; limb, J Specific Character. — Plant a glabrous twining 
five-parted ; staminal corona five-leaved ; leaflets com- shrub, evergreen. Leaves largish, cordate. Flowers 
pressed, elongated. Anthers terminated by a mem- white, corymbose. Corona exserted, equal to the 
brane ; pollen-masses fixed beneath their apexes, limb of the corolla — Don's Gard. and Bot. 
pendulous. Stigma bluntly conical. Follicles solitary Synonymes. — Asclepias pulchella, Pergularia cam- 
by abortion, somewhat ventricose. Seeds comose. I panulata. 
In publishing a figure of this twining plant we adopt the name which Dr. Wal- 
lich has given it in his fine work, the " Plantse Asiaticse Rariores." But as eminent 
botanists of the present day do not follow that distinguished author in the present 
case, R. puchellum may hereafter receive another name. 
Although we regard this as a comparatively recent addition, we have no direct 
information as to when it was introduced. We only know of its having flowered 
with Messrs. Knight and Perry. With these gentlemen, a tolerably large specimen 
developed a profusion of blossoms last October, and a drawing was taken at that 
period. Silhet, Gowalpara, Tavoy, and other places in the British territory of Hin- 
doostan, are given as natural habitats of the species. 
R. pulchellum is nearly equal to Stephanotis floribundus for culture in pots, and 
superior to it as a conservatory or stove climber, inasmuch as it is not so stiff in its 
habit, and therefore more suitable for training to columns or rafters in the interior of 
a glass structure. We compare it with S. floribundus, because that beautiful plant 
is so well known, and also because it has some features in common with this species. 
It produces bloom well nigh as freely now as S. floribundus ; and when it has been 
longer under cultivation, it may be expected to make advances in this particular; 
it will also succeed in a like temperature, in similar soil, and will flourish and 
increase under similar management. Though R. pulchellum emits a perfume which 
is agreeable to some persons, and its flowers are white when they first expand, it has 
nothing of the delicious fragrance nor purity of colour of S. floribundus. It is much 
stronger growing than the plant with which it has been compared, and has rather 
