LEIANTHUS LONGIFOLIUS. 
Class. 
PENTANDRIA. 
(Long-leaved Leianttms.) 
Natural Order. 
GENTIANACEjE. 
Order. 
MONOGYNIA. 
Generic Character.— Calyx tubular, five-angled, 
five-toothed. Corolla funnel-shaped, with a five-cleft 
limb, and a wide, naked throat. Stamens five, exserted, 
reclinate ; anthers oblong, sagittate, unchanged by dry- 
ing. Stigma exserted, small, roundish, bilamellate. 
Capsule one-celled, two-valved, tumid ; margins of 
valves bent into the central placenta, many-seeded ; 
seeds small, viscid. Leaves opposite; petioles combined 
at the base into a sheath. Flowers lateral, axillary, and 
terminal, yellowish, and large.—- Don's Gard. and Bot. 
Specific Character. — Plant an evergreen shrub, 
downy. Branches fastigiate, four-cornered. Leaves 
lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, acute, downy, tapering 
into short petioles. Flowers on short, axillary, and, 
terminal pedicels ; segments of corolla ovate-lanceo- 
late, acute. Corollas yellow. 
Synonymes.— Lisianthus longifolius. Tachia longi- 
folia. 
The genus Leianthus is founded on the plant represented in the plate before us. 
Lisianthus longifolius and Tachia longifolia are names under which it is described 
in Botanical works, and known in gardens. From the ' ' Botanical Magazine " we 
learn it was sent to Kew about half a century ago, but was soon lost ; it was again 
introduced at a later period, and met with a similar fate. It has, however, been 
very recently restored through seeds sent by Mr. Purdie, Collector to the Boyal 
Botanical Gardens of Kew, from whence have emanated the comparatively few 
plants now in collections. It is found in woods in Jamaica. 
When flowering it wears somewhat of a mournful aspect ; the form of its leaves, 
which are not exactly of the shape its specific title would signify, — their sober green, 
its straggling habit, the colour and drooping of its flowers, all extensively contribute 
to create in it the effect we have alluded to. 
It Is a species deserving of extended culture ; not for any pretensions it has to 
remarkable beauty, or as possessing the qualifications that are generally understood 
to constitute an object of interest, but from the novelty of its appearance, and the 
uncommonness of plants of a similar description. Consequently its introduction 
amongst such as on every side force themselves into notice by the number and 
brilliance of their flowers, or attract attention from their splendour and magnificence, 
will be productive of a pleasing contrast, and set off to greater advantage the 
respective merits of each. 
Irrespective of what we have advanced in its behalf, it has merits that entitle it 
