GESNERA GERARDIANA. 
Class. 
DIDYNAMIA. 
(— Gerard's Gesneria.) 
Natural Order. 
GESNERACEiE. 
Order. 
ANGIOSPERMIA. 
Generic Character.— Calyx adnate to the ovary; 
limb nearly equally five-lobed, free. Corolla semi- 
superior, tubular, with five gibbosities at the base ; 
limb sub- bilabiate ; upper lip drawn out, emarginately 
two-lobed ; lower lip three-lobed. Stamens didyna- 
mous, with the rudiment of a fifth behind ; anthers at 
first cohering into a round head. Glands five, or fewer, 
around the ovary. Capsule dry in the calyx, one-celled, 
incompletely two-valved ; placentas two, parietal, 
many-seeded. Seeds scobif orm. —Don's Gardening 
and Botany. 
Specific Character.— Plant a tuberous-rooted per- 
ennial, tubers scaly. Stem round, erect, herbaceous, 
simple, downy, succulent. Leaves cordate, opposite, 
bluntly serrated ; petiole rather short. Flower-spikes 
terminal, large. Flowers on long slender peduncles, 
drooping. Corolla large, scarlet above, yellow below ; 
lower segments of limb largest, which, as well as in- 
terior of throat, is dotted with red ; tube somewhat 
inflated. 
This remarkably fine Gesnera is a native of South America, from whence tubers 
of it were imported by the very Reverend the Dean of Manchester, and forwarded 
more than two years ago to the Messrs. Rollisson, of the Tooting Nursery, by whom 
it has been sent out : and who, previous to its being known to be the present species, 
conceived the intention of naming it in compliment to the gentleman from whom 
they received it. Hence the name the accompanying plate bears, which was engraved 
in accordance with the intention above alluded to. 
To the obliging attention of R. G. Lorraine, Esq., of Wallington Lodge, Car- 
shalton, we are indebted for the opportunity of preparing our drawing, which was 
executed last autumn from a delightful specimen in the possession of that gentleman. 
As combining all the features of excellence that distinguish the genus Gesnera, 
this really splendid plant is unequalled among its congeners. Possibly in some 
individual particular, (as the richness of its flowers, beauty of foliage, &c.,) it may not 
be able to compete with all the members of its family ; but in elegance and general 
character it is wholly unrivalled. 
It most nearly resembles G. zebrina, has not, as may be imagined, the finely 
marked foliage of that species, but in general aspect there is evident resemblance ; 
and, with the exception just referred to, it not only possesses all the properties of the 
species under comparison, but does so in a more eminent degree ; and is devoid of 
its stiffness and formal appearance. 
