MITRARIA COCCINEA. 
(Scarlet- flowered Mitraria.) 
Class, Order. 
DIDYNAMIA. ANGIOSPERMl A. 
Natural Order. 
GESNERACEiE. 
(Gesner-worts, Veg. King,) 
Generic Character.— Calyx inferior ; limb five- 
parted, equal, calyculated by a two-lobed, mitre- 
formed bractea. Corolla tubularly ventricose ; upper 
lip of limb two-lobed ; lower one three-lobed. Stamens 
four, didynamous, exserted, with the rudiment of a 
ing. Leaves opposite, small, ovate, acute, serrated. 
Flowers axillary, solitary. Peduncles slender, about two 
inches long. Bracts mitre-formed, covering the calyx. 
Calyx five-parted. Corolla of a brilliant scarlet ; tube 
ventricose, an inch-and-a-half long; limb bilabiate, 
fifth behind. Anthers free. Berry one-celled, many- upper lip with two rounded lobes ; lower lip three- 
seeded.— G. Bon. lobed, lobes smaller than the upper ones. Stamens 
Specific Character.' — Plant a shrub. Stems climb- I four, exserted. 
This is a most ornamental climbing shrub, having the habit of Columnea. It is 
a native of San Carlos de Chiloe, and was introduced by Messrs. Veitch and Son, of 
Exeter, who received it from their collector, Mr. Lobb, and in whose nursery it 
flowered in May last, when our drawing was made. 
The plant seems likely to prove a valuable acquisition to our gardens ; its habit 
is scandent, and it appears to grow about the height of three or four feet ; the leaves 
are small and neat, and the flowers, of a vivid scarlet, hanging gracefully on long, 
slender peduncles from the axils of the leaves, give it when in bloom a more than 
ordinary share of attraction ; and what is not the least valuable and remarkable is, 
that it will very probably prove perfectly hardy, being the only member known of 
this extensive and very ornamental order that will endure the open air of this country 
without protection ; the greater part being amongst our tenderest stove-plants, and 
the others requiring the warmth of a greenhouse. 
This genus, Mitraria, was founded by Cavanilles; the name being derived 
from mitra, a mitre, in reference to the mitre-formed bractea which covers the calyx ; 
and is a very different plant from the Mitraria of Gmelin, which is a Barring- 
tonia. The subject of our present plate is the only species at present known, 
although it is not improbable but subsequent collectors may yet meet with other, and 
perhaps still more valuable, members of so beautiful a genus. 
