ASYSTASIA COROMANDELIANA. 
(Coromandel Aeystasia.) 
Class. Order. 
DID YN AMI A. ANGIOSPERMIA. 
Natural Order. 
ACANTHACEiE. 
Generic Character. — Calyx five-parted, equal. 
Corolla hypogynous, somewhat funnel-shaped ; limh 
five-parted, segments nearly equal. Stamens four, 
inserted in the tube of the corolla, didynamous ; fila- 
ments united at the base. Anthers two-celled, cells 
narrow, parallel, having callosities or appendages at 
the base. Ovary two-celled, cells two-seeded. Style 
simple. Stigma capitate, two-lobed, or two-toothed. 
Capsule clawed, four-sided, two-celled, four-seeded. 
Specific Character. — Somewhat shrubby, branched ; 
Branches zig-zag, slightly downy as well as the leaves, 
Leaves opposite, ovato-cordate, soft, somewhat waved, 
pale beneath. Petioles shorter than the leaves, connate 
at the base. Racemes axillary, six to ten-flowered. 
Flowers nearly sessile. Calyx of five, deep, lanceolato- 
subulate, erect segments, slightly hairy ; at its base 
are small appressed bracteas. Corolla, with the tube 
long, infundibuliform, pale green, sprinkled with pur- 
ple, bent at the contraction ; limb deep lilac, spotted 
with darker spots ; of five spreading, rounded, waved, 
unequal segments. Stamens four, didynamous, united 
at the base of the filaments, included. Ovary oblong, 
hairy, inserted in a cup-shaped disk. Style inserted 
obliquely at the top of the germen, hairy at the base. 
Stigma two-lobed. — Hooker, Bot. Mag., t. 4248. 
Synonvmes. — Ruellia Coromandeliana, R. secunda, 
R. intrnsa, R. obliqaa, Justicia Gangelica, 
This very handsome species of Asystasia is perhaps the most desirable of the 
whole genus, both from the freedom with which its flowers are produced, and their 
size and colour. It has been known to exist in India for many years past, but 
although far from being scarce in that country, we are not aware of its having 
reached Europe in a living state until 1844, when specimens of it were brought to 
this country. One of these, in August, 1845, flowered in the stove of Mr. Hender- 
son, Pine-apple Place, Edgeware Road, London, when our drawing was made. 
It is a plant of easy culture, growing freely in a warm and moist stove, with 
plenty of pot-room, and a liberal supply of water when in a growing state, both at the 
roots and over the foliage. Good drainage is also very essential to its prosperity. 
The most suitable soil is a mixture of sandy heath mould, leaf mould, and a light 
loam, in about equal proportions, not sifted or beat very fine, but in a lumpy state 
and containing plenty of fibre. 
The time of its flowering is through the whole of the autumn months, com- 
mencing about the beginning of August, and continuing until about the end of 
November. It strikes freely from cuttings of the half ripened wood planted in pots 
of sand or sandy soil, and placed in a brisk moist heat under a glass. 
The meaning of the generic name is unknown, (i but the genus was founded by 
Blume on a Java species.'— Bot, Mag, 
