FRANCISCEA IIYDRANGEiEFORMIS. 
Class. 
D1DYNAMIA. 
( Hy drangea-like Franciscea. ' 
Natural Order, 
SCROPHULARIACEiE. 
Order. 
ANGXOSPEIiMIA. 
GrENERic Character. — See page 27. 
Specific Character. — Plant an evergreen shrub, 
;m a little branched. Leaves oblong, acute, cunei- 
■m, at the base quite glabrous, yellowish-green be- 
ath, subverticillately aggregate, broad, a foot long ; 
bracteas lanceolate, pilose, ciliated and scale-formed, 
aggregate. Cymes of flowers terminal, hemispherical, 
large. Calyx hairy. Corolla of a beautiful bluish- 
violet. — Don's Gardening and Botany. 
This species is a native of the province of Rio Janeiro, Olava, and other parts 
‘Brazil, where it was originally discovered and specified hy Pohl. Mr. Gardner, 
te “ Botanical Magazine ” informs ns, found it in the Organ Mountains in 1837, 
om whence he sent seeds that were raised in the Botanic Gardens of Kew and 
lasgow, which establishments, doubtless, have since aided in furnishing collections 
ith the plants they now possess. 
Fine as this stove plant is said to be, it has hitherto had no opportunity of 
weloping the high character given it : though it has sufficiently discovered what it 
ally is. Raised in botanical establishments, in close companionship with thou- 
nds of other plants, it is not expected it can have been afforded that accommodation 
ecessary to develop its real excellence. Passing from the establishments referred 
into Nurseries, and there undergoing a probation, and propagated with a severity 
tat must impair the energies of the plants, — -added to this, the length of time con- 
imed before it reaches the hands of those who have to restore its energies and 
’ing out its true character, — it is no wonder that it is, as are too many of our finest 
ants, comparatively a long time after their introduction to the country, before they 
;cupy that position their merits ultimately insure to them. 
As an ornamental plant it has qualities which will claim for it a welcome 
Imission among all inmates of a stove, possessing as it does the freedom of growth 
id disposition to bloom of its predecessors, and attaining naturally proportionately 
nail dimensions ; its ample foliage, numerous and large heads of bloom, their fine 
>lour when first expanded, and singular property, (in common with other members 
the genus,) of changing to one almost opposite, constitute no small recommend- 
ion. 
VOL. XIII. — NO. CL. 
R 
