LAGERSTRCEMIA ELEGANS. 
(Elegant Lagerstrcemia.) 
Class. Order. 
ICOSANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. 
Natural Order. 
LYTHRACEiE. 
Generic Character.— Calyx bibracteolate at the 
base, six-cleft, campanulate ; lobes valvate in aesti- 
vation. Corolla consisting of six petals, alternating 
with the lobes of the calyx, and inserted between 
the divisions at the top of the calycine tube. Stamens 
many, of which the six outer ones are the largest, 
inserted lower in the tube of the calyx than the 
petals. Ovary three to six-celled. Style one. Fruit 
a capsule, three to six-valved, girded by the calyx, 
three to six-celled. Seeds winged. 
Specific Character. — Plant a deciduous shrub, 
growing eight or ten feet high. Branches numerous, 
tetragonal, angles winged. Leaves opposite, entire, 
roundish-ovate, acute, glabrous, of a glaucous green. 
Peduncles axillary, but constituting terminal many- 
flowered panicles. Flowers deep rich rose-colour, 
varied with yellow. Segments of calyx neither fur- 
rowed nor plaited. Petals curled, on long claws. 
The subject of our present plate resembles in some respects the L. indica (1), 
but its growth is far more robust, its flowering season much later, and its whole 
habit, when the two are seen together, very distinct. The blossoms, which are 
rather darker coloured, and a little smaller than those of L. indica, are produced in 
fine spreading panicles at the extremities of the branches, are exceedingly showy, 
and continue in perfection for a long time. 
It is a native of mountains in the East Indies, where it was originally discovered 
by Dr. Wallich, and by him introduced to the Botanical Garden of Calcutta, from 
whence it reached this country in 1841. 
The cultivation of this magnificent shrub, in connexion with the other known 
members of this fine genus, is given in detail at page 209 of the present volume of 
our Magazine, to which our readers will be so kind as to refer. It might, however, 
be here mentioned, in addition, that too much cannot be said in favour of the most 
extensive cultivation of every known species of this genus. 
The name was given by Linnscus in honour of Magnus Lagerstroem, of Gotten- 
burg, Director of the Swedish East India Company, and who was a great patron of 
Botany and Natural History. 
The greater part of Lythraceous plants are herbaceous ; some form shrubs, and a 
very small proportion grow into timber trees. The order is divided into two sections, 
Lythrece and Lagerstrcemea. Of the first, many species are used for medicinal 
purposes, and in their native countries are highly esteemed. Others are put to 
