ZAUSCHNERIA CALIFORNICA. 
(Californian Zauschneria.) 
Class. 
OCTANDRIA 
ONAGRACE^. 
(Onagrads, Veg.King.) 
Order. 
MONOGYNIA. 
Natural Order. 
Generic Character.!— superior, the segments 
cohering and forming a long tetragonal tube ; the limb 
four-parted, with a valvate aestivation. Petals four, 
inserted in the throat of the calyx, regular, with a 
twisted aestivation. Stamens eight, inserted into the 
calyx, filaments distinct, extending beyond the flower. 
Ovary four-celled. Style filiform. Stigma four-lobed. 
Seeds numerous. 
Specific Character.— PZawZ a herhaceous perennial, 
growing about three feet high. Leaves ovate, sessile, 
slightly dentate, opposite on the lower part of the 
stems, but alternate towards the extremity, hairy. 
Flowers axillary, solitary, drooping, of a bright scarlet. 
Calyx tube with four stout ribs, gradually swelling 
from the base to the centre; segments of the limb linear- 
lanceolate, acute, slightly hairy, as long as the tube, 
deciduous. Petals four, heart-shaped, the point of each 
being fastened within the throat of the calyx, spread- 
ing. Stamens eight, all fertile ; filaments much longer 
than the tube of the calyx in which they are inserted ; 
anthers red. Style longer than the filaments ; stigma 
four-lobed ; lobes spreading, covered with fine hairs. 
Authorities and Synonymes. — Zauschneria Presl. 
in Reliquice Hcenkeance, vol. ii. p. 28, t. 52 ; Lindl. in 
Veg. King. p. 725 ; Zauschneria californica, Presl. as 
above. Jour. Hort. Soc. vol. hi. p. 241. 
OuE drawing of this fine new hardy plant was made in the garden of the 
Horticultural Society, where it produced its showy flowers in August last. It must 
certainly be classed amongst our very best herbaceous plants, and when it has become 
sufficiently increased to admit of general distribution throughout the country, there 
will be few gardens where this fine ornament will not be grown. 
In the “ Journal of the Horticultural Society,” vol. iii., p. 243, it is stated to 
have been raised from seeds, collected by Mr. Hartweg, in fields about Santa Cruz, 
in California, and received at the garden of the Society, May II, 1847. 
The remarks of that excellent Botanist, Dr. Bindley, are as follow : — “ This 
curious plant, which it has long been an object to obtain, proves to be a species of 
much horticultural interest. It forms a bushy perennial, about three feet high, 
clothed with ovate, sessile, toothed leaves, resembling those of a Gaura. Every 
branch emits from the axils of all the upper leaves one horizontal bright scarlet 
flower, about an inch and a half long. Its general appearance is not unlike that 
of a Fuchsia, but the calyx tube has four stout ribs. The petals, which are 
inversely heart-shaped, spread flat ; the eight stamens, with red anthers, and a 
four-lobed stigma, project beyond the flower. The plant grows freely in good garden 
