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PLUMBAGO LARPENTiE. 
(Lady Larpent'a Lead- Wort.) 
Class. Order. 
PENTANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. 
Natural Order. 
PL UMBAG I N ACE J5. 
Generic Character.— Calyx tubulose, plaited, five- 
toothed, persistent. Corolla monopetalous, salver- 
shaped, limb five-parted. Stamens hypogynous. Styles 
filiform. Stigmas acute. Ovary superior, one-celled, 
one-seeded. 
Specific Character — Stems slender, zigzag, covered 
with scales and close-pressed hairs. Leaves obovate, 
acute, tapering to the base, covered with minute scales 
on each side, finely serrated, and fringed. Flowers 
violet, in close terminal heads. Bracts and sepals 
smooth, shining, ciliated, perfectly destitute of glands. 
For the opportunity of figuring this valuable addition to our autumn border 
flowers, we are indebted to Messrs. Knight and Perry, in whose nursery at Chelsea 
it flowered in such immense profusion in October last, that, on a fair computation, 
no less a number than 4000 blossoms were perfected. 
It is a native of China, and was discovered by Mr. Fortune, growing on the 
ruined ramparts of Shanghai ; it was subsequently found by Mr. Smith, in the same 
locality, and also growing out of the stone- work of the city wall ; but is stated to 
be, even in its native country, a very rare plant. 
For its addition to our collections, we are indebted to the latter gentleman, who 
sent seeds to Sir George Larpent, by whom it was raised, and a flowering specimen 
was shown at a meeting of the Horticultural Society in July last, when a prize 
was awarded to Mr. Eyles, Sir George's gardener. 
The flowers, as will be seen by the figure, are of a deep rich violet, beautifully 
tinted in the throat with fine red. The plant also is sufficiently hardy to endure 
the open air in summer and autumn, so that its real value is greatly enhanced by 
the use to which it can be appropriated. 
For the successful cultivation of this plant, its native localities would point out 
the following several particulars. 
Select a soil naturally of a light and sandy texture, or render it so by making 
a mixture of peat, light loam, and sand. 
The pots in which the plants are placed to grow should be filled with at least one 
fourth of broken crocks as drainage, and a few should also be mixed through the 
soil. 
