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GESNERIA COOPERI. 
(MR. cooper’s GESNERIA.) 
CLASS. ORDER. 
DIDYNAMIA. ANGIOSPERMIA. 
NATURAL ORDER. 
GESNERIiE. 
Generic Character — Calyx cut into 5 parts. Corolla an irregular tube, bending inwards, and also i 
backwards. Limb 2 lipped. Capsule 2 celled, inferior. 
Specific Character. — Herb covered with soft downiness. Leaves opposite, heart shaped, dark green on 
the upper surface, and lighter beneath, thickly covered both on the upper and under surface with white 
downiness, notched and serrated; leaf stalks from 1^ inch to 2 inches long; panicles numerous; 
leaflets of the calyx short; corolla tubular, bright scarlet, soft, like velvet, slightly curved inwards, 3 
inches or more long; limb one-third the length of the tube, upper lip much longer than the lower, 
slightly divided into 2 parts at the extremity, lower lip short, cut into 3 parts ; stamens nearly equal 
in length to the corolla ; anthers connected nearly into a square ; pollen cream coloured ; germen 
conical, villous, and longer than the segments of the calyx. 
Synonym. — Gesneria bulbosa. — Hook. Bot. Mag. t. 3041. 
This elegant species was sent to the late much to be lamented Mrs. Arnold 
Harrison, with other varieties, by her brother, from Brazil, about five years ago. It 
first flowered in the stove of Mrs. A. Harrison. 
It is evidently the same plant as that figured by Dr. Hooker in the Botanical 
Magazine, 3041, under the name of Gesneria bulbosa, although the flowers in our 
specimen are deeper in colour, without the tinge of orange, and considerably larger. 
Subsequent observations of the plant repeatedly in flower has convinced us of its 
being so decidedly distinct from the bulbosa as to warrant us in naming it as a 
distinct species. We have therefore named it after our excellent friend Mr. Cooper, 
from whom we received the specimen for our drawing, and from whom we have 
since received plants ; and under whose excellent management both the above and 
other species flourish in profusion at Wentworth. 
The best soil for it is sandy loam and peat. It requires only the attention of 
other stove plants of a similar habit. It is easily propagated by cuttings, planted 
either in sand or mould, plunged in heat, and covered with a glass. It also 
produces seeds. 
