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TWEEDIA CCERULEA. 
(LIGHT BLUE-FLOWERED TWEEDIA.) 
CLASS. ORDER. 
PENTANDRIA. DIGYNIA. 
NATURAL ORDER. 
ASCLEPIADACEiE. 
Generic Character. — Calyx five-parted. Corolla campanulate, throat crowned. Petals five, fleshy, 
retuse or bifid, exserted. Crown of stamens none. Anthers terminated by a membrane. Pollen- 
masses ventricose, adhering by the summit, attenuated, pendulous. Stigma elongated, acuminate, 
two-parted. 
Specific Character. — Plant densely clothed with downy white hairs. Root perennial. Stems twining, 
herbaceous, filiform, nearly simple, varying from a foot to three feet high. Leaves opposite, stalked, 
cordate-lanceolate, mucronulate, entire, even, about an inch and a-half long, and half an inch broad ; 
posterior lobes rounded, connivent, frequently overlapping each other. Inflorescence interpetiolary, 
composed of three or five-flowered umbels. Pedicels filiform, about three inches long, densely 
hairy. Petioles short, semicylindrical, woolly. Calyx five-partite ; segments lanceolate, acuminate, 
interiorly glabrous. Corolla rotate, five-partite, blue, the base furnished with five nectariferous 
cavities ; segments elliptical oblong, obtuse, densely hairy beneath, nearly glabrous above. Corona 
simple, five-leaved ; segments ligulate, obtuse, fleshy, about half the length of the corolla, revolute 
at the apex. Stamens five, monadelphous. Filaments membranous, white. Anthers yellow, 
crowned by a broad, oval, retuse, membranous appendage. Pollen-masses clavate, compressed, 
amber-coloured, pendulous ; each of the pedicels furnished with a sharp recurved tooth. Gland 
linear, obtuse, erect, channelled exteriorly, of a dark chocolate colour, glossy, longer than the pollen- 
masses. Ovaria two, smooth, ventricose. Styles shorter than the ovaria. Stigmas compressed, 
acute — Don's British Flower Garden, t. 407. 
This handsome climbing shrub was first discovered by Mr. Tweedie, in 
Buenos Ayres, and seeds of it were sent by that gentleman to Scotland, the plants 
raised from which flowered in several collections in the vicinity of Edinburgh and 
Glasgow in 1836. It is yet scarce in English gardens, although its merits are 
sufficient to obtain for it a very extensive dispersion. The extreme caution of 
cultivators has, however, by keeping it in too high a temperature, prevented it 
from exhibiting hitherto its true character. 
Perhaps no plant loses more of its beauty by confinement in a stove, green- 
house, or intermediate house, than Tweedia ccerulea. In the first and last-named 
of these structures, especially, the colour of its flowers is deteriorated to a pale 
bluish grey ; and those who have only seen it in such situations, would be perfectly 
justified in regarding it as a plant of little value. But, when transplanted to the 
