CENTROPOGON SURINAMENSIS. 
Class. 
PENTANDRIA. 
(Surinam Centropogon.) 
Natural Order. 
LOBELI A.CEiE . 
Order. 
MONOGYNIA. 
Generic Character. — Calyx with a sub-globose 
tube. Corolla with an entire tube, tubularly incurved ; 
upper lobes larger, falcate, galeate ; lower ones spread- 
ing. Anthers, the two lower ones ovately triangular, 
cartilaginous. Annulus flesLy. Berry globose, two- 
celled ; pericarp slender ; placenta large. 
Specific Character. — Stem simple, smooth. Leaves 
elliptical, acute or acuminate, shortly petiolate, toothed; 
teeth small, acute. Pedicels rather shorter than the 
leaves, bibracteolate at the base. Calyx with an hemi- 
spherical tube ; lobes lanceolate, acuminate, longer 
than the tube, slightly toothed. Corolla incurved, 
upper part subventricose ; upper lobes larger, recurved. 
Anthers much exserted, hairy. Berry globose. 
Synonymes. — Lobelia surinamensis, L. sphcerocarpa, 
L. spectabilis and cornuta, Siphocampylus spcctabilis, 
S. macranthus, S. surinamensis. 
Our description of this subject and synonymes are taken from De Oandolle's 
"Prodromus." It will be imagined, from their number, that the plant has passed 
through the hands of many botanists, which is the case, and which again conveys 
the idea that it is an ancient species, which is also correct, for it was known and 
described more than half a century ago. 
It is placed in the genus it is now a member of by the author already mentioned, 
is a native of Surinam, whence it takes its specific name ; and, in addition, is said 
to be found in New Grenada and Brazil. 
As a useful and handsome plant, its claims to attention are considerable. It is 
a long and free bloomer, and producing its flowers as it does, in the early as well as 
greater part of the year, becomes valuable from that cause. In habit it is close- 
growing, and forms a dwarf compact bush, with, as will be seen, numerous large 
handsome coloured flowers, and abundant shining green foliage ; the leaves being 
much like those of a Peach, it cannot fail, especially in good hands, to be very 
ornamental. 
On the score of management, there is no grounds for apprehending it can be 
improperly treated, so easily is it induced to flourish and flower, and still it is not a 
common plant. It is generally regarded as requiring to be kept in the stove, and 
in the winter season it is then, in all probability, most useful ; but we have also 
seen it succeeding in a very satisfactory manner in a situation where greenhouse 
accommodation only was afforded ; further still, we are not aware of any obstacle to 
