BUGAINVILLiEA SPECTABILIS. 
(The remarkable Bugainvillsea.) 
Class. Order. 
OCTANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. 
Natural Order. 
NYCTAGINACE^. 
Generic Character. •— Involucrum three-leaved, 
coloured, with a flower springing from near the base 
of the mid-rib of each leaf, three-flowered. Perianth 
tubular, with a narrow throat ; limb folded, obsoletely 
five or ten toothed, persistent. Stamens seven or eight, 
hypogynous, free, enclosed in the perianth. Ovary 
one-celled; Ovitto solitary, erect ; Sfyfe simple. Stigma 
undivided, an angular hardened tube, within 
the perianth, free, shut in by the persistent involucrum. 
Seeds erect; endocarp testaceous, connate. Embryo 
enwrapped in amylaceous albumen. Cotyledons con- 
duplicate ; radiele outward, inferior. 
I Climbing plants at the present day occupy a considerable share of attention ; 
“but of the numerous species which possess this interesting habit, there are not a 
I few that show a reluctance to develope their flowers, and often retain their sterility 
for many years. 
Of this class is the subject to which we now invite attention. Its merits were 
unknown to British cultivators, except through wild specimens from its native 
country, and by flowers sent over from continental gardens, till the specimen 
growing in the large conservatory at Chatsworth disclosed its singular and 
ij beautiful inflorescence about two years ago, and again in still greater profusion 
throughout the greater part of last summer. Judging that a plant which has so 
I long disappointed cultivators, cannot fail to be interesting, we had the accom- 
panying representation taken from blooms that expanded in July. 
The showiness of the inflorescence is entirely vested in the large, gaily-coloured 
bracts, of which a pretty accurate idea may be gained from our figure, though they 
possess a silky softness which no touch of the pencil can imitate. Combined with 
i their beautiful appearance, tliey carry with them the additional recommendation of 
enduring for a long time. In fact they possess a property similar to that common 
I amongst Compositse, and familiarly termed everlasting.” We have now before 
I us the specimen from which our drawing was prepared, the bracts of which 
; (altliough their preservation has been entirely accidental and unregarded,) still 
retain their position, form, and colour, almost as perfect, fresh, and fair as ever. 
Specific Character. — Pmnc a spinous, evergreen 
shrub. Branches alternate, nearly terete, beset with 
crooked spines, and when young covered with nu- 
merous short brownish hairs. Leaves alternate, ovate, 
obtuse, covered with soft hairs, those on the upper 
surface being much shorter than the under. Peduncles 
axillary ; pedicels united to the mid-rib of the bracts. 
Bracts oval, purple. Perianth shorter than the bracts, 
swollen at the base, contracted and twisted above the 
middle ; limb five-toothed. 
