ECHITES ATROPURPUREA. 
(Dark purple-flowered Echites.) 
Class 
PENTANDRIA. 
Natural Order. 
APOCYNACEiE. 
Order. 
MONOGYNIA. 
Generic Character. — Calyx small, five-parted. 
Corolla salver-shaped, with a naked throat and tube ; 
segments of the limb unequal- sided. Stamens enclosed ; 
anthers sagittate, cohering by their middle to the 
stigma, having the hind lobes without pollen. Ovaria 
two. Style one, filiform. Hypogynous scales five. 
Fruit of two slender follicles. 
Specific Character. — Plant an evergreen twiner. 
Leaves opposite, petiolate, elliptical, acuminate, entire, 
smooth, and shining. Peduncles axillary, two or more 
flowered. Flowers pedicellate. Calyx of five equal 
subulate segments. Corolla with a tube two inches 
long, slender at bottom, becoming inflated towards the 
top ; segments broadly ovate, rather unequal, acumi- 
nate, deep brownish purple. Stamens affixed to the 
tube of the corolla, about half way down. 
This pleasing new species was introduced from Brazil by Messrs. Veitch, 
nurserymen, of Exeter, having been found there, among other things, by these 
gentlemen's collector. It bloomed for the first time in the month of July last ; and 
we are told that the name under which we now publish it has been applied by 
Dr. Lindley. It refers to the deep brownish purple hue of the blossoms. 
Our subject is a slender climbing or twining plant, apparently like E. suberecta 
in habit, with equally distant foliage, and flowers of about the same dimensions, 
but of a widely dissimilar hue. Associated with the species we have named, it 
would hardly be distinguishable from it on a cursory survey, except when in 
bloom. Then, the contrast of the present flowers with the delicate yellow of those 
of E. suberecta would be exceedingly agreeable. 
The blossoms of this plant are borne on long and graceful axillary peduncles, 
two or more appearing on each. They have a tube nearly two inches in length, 
expanding, about half way from the base, into a wide throat, which has an ample 
and spreading limb, an inch and a half across. In the earlier stages of their 
development, they have a pleasant odour, which enhances the interest of the 
species. 
It was exhibited by Messrs. Veitch at one of the great meetings in the Horti- 
cultural Society's gardens, and a Banksian medal was awarded for this and another 
species, of which we shall shortly give a figure. The dark tint of its flowers seems 
to contrast finely with the lightness and airiness of its habit. 
