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LISIANTHUS RUSSELLIANUS. 
(duke of Bedford's lisianthus.) 
class. order. 
PENTANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. 
NATURAL ORDER. 
GENTTANACEiE. 
Generic Character. — Anthers inclining to one side, generally recurved. Corolla funnel-shaped, 
withering, five-lobed. Stigma two- plated. Capsule with an inflexed valve, divided into two parts 
of two or four cells each, or more frequently completely two-celled ; placentae in pairs on both sides 
of the division. 
Specific Character. — Plant biennial. Stem one to two feet high, erect, rounded, slightly branched, 
smooth, and glaucous. Leaves ovate, very acute, three to five-nerved. Flowers paniculate. 
Calyx deeply divided into distant, awl-shaped lobes. Corolla deep blue, very showy, five-parted, 
campanulately funnel-shaped ; lobes obovate, spreading. 
Much as the merits of this species have been extolled in various publications, 
and by eminent individuals, there exists an impression among floriculturists, which 
has recently been greatly strengthened, that it is far from being so handsome as it is 
generally reputed. Our previous notices of it have, perhaps, been somewhat vague, 
because we have preferred leaving any remarks which we wished to make till an 
opportunity was afforded of illustrating and confirming them by a correct repre- 
sentation. Such we have at length the gratification to submit, and affirm that we 
are not acquainted with any plant which is more entitled to the epithet ornamental 
than the one now figured. 
Concerning the beauty of this plant, but one opinion can be entertained by 
those who have witnessed its magnificent flowers. The erroneous notion which has 
obtained respecting it, and which we now hope to remove, has originated in the 
following circumstance. A species or variety of Lisianthus has been introduced, 
(by seed from Jamaica, as we are informed,) the general aspect of which might 
easily be mistaken for the present species, by those whose knowledge of its 
appearance is but imperfect. The plant in question has also flowered in several 
collections, and its blossoms are of a deep blue colour. Here, however, all resem- 
blance ceases ; for the flowers approach very nearly, in size and form, to those of 
some species of Chironia. It is needless to add, that this is not Lisianthus Rus- 
