SERICOGRAPHIS GHIESBREGHTIANA . 
Class. 
DIDYNAMIA. 
(Ghiesbreglit's Sericographis.) 
Natural Order. 
ACANTHACEiE. 
(Acanthads, Veg. King.) 
Order. 
A NGIOSPERMI A . 
Generic Character.— Calyx five-parted, unequal. 
Corolla hypogynous, tubular, bilabiate ; upper lip bi- 
dentate, lower lip three-toothed, lobes nearly equal. 
Stamens four, inserted in the tube of the corolla, in- 
cluded, didynamous. Anthers one-celled, awnless. 
Ovary two-celled. Style simple. Stigma two-cleft. 
Specific Character.— Plant a dwarf half-herbaceous 
shrub. Stems smooth. Leaves opposite, oblong-lance- 
olate, glabrous, undulated, on short petioles. Flowers 
of a bright scarlet colour, sessile, produced in small 
loose, one-sided, downy panicles. Calyx hairy, parted 
into five narrow, unequal segments, divided to the 
base. Corolla tubular ; tube an inch or more long ; 
limb bilabiate ; teeth of the lips blunt, equal. 
Authorities and Synonymes. — Sericographis Ghies- 
breghtiana De Candolle, Prod, xi., 730 ; Journ. Hort. 
Soc, v. 3, 244 ; Aphelandra Ghiesbreghtiana of the 
Continental and English nurseries. 
We are unacquainted with the native country of this fine species of a new genus, 
nearly related to Justicia. It was introduced a few years ago into Belgium by 
M. Galeotti of Brussels ; and has since found its way into several of the continental 
nurseries : in 1846, Messrs. Kollisson, of Tooting, received a plant from M. Makoy 
of Liege, under the name of Aphelandra Ghiesbreghtiana ; and from a splendid 
specimen which flowered in their nursery our drawing was made in March last. 
It is a shrubby species, requiring the temperature of the stove, and producing its 
fine scarlet flowers during the winter months ; on this account it must be considered 
as an acquisition. It requires similar treatment to that given to Justicias, and, 
being a plant of vigorous growth, a good share of pot-room is important. 
The soil may be composed of good light turfy loam, heath-mould, and sand, with 
a little leaf-mould or very rotten dung added ; and, always insure a good drainage. 
When in a vigorous growing state, give a liberal supply of water, both at the 
roots, and also by syringing ; by this means the plant will be kept free from insects, 
to which all these soft-wooded kinds are very liable, and its development will not be 
interrupted. 
A brisk moist heat is necessary to grow it well ; but during the season of its 
torpidity a limited supply both of heat and moisture are advantageous. 
Increase is effected by cuttings planted in sand, and placed in heat under a glass. 
