50 
NEW AND CHOICE ACHIMENES— GLOXINIAS. 
CYRTODEIRA (ACHIMENES) CHONTALENSIS. 
The following account of this new plant was given in the Gardens vs’ Chronicle , by Dr. Bertliold 
Seemann, F.L.S., June 22nd, 1867 : — 
“This is one of the finest plants of the Chontales gold region of Central America, and was first 
found by my able assistant Mr. James Griffin, at the Pavon end of the Javali Mine, whore it grew 
in only a very small spot — shady groves on the banks of a rivulet. Although wo became afterwards 
well acquainted with the vegetation of the district, we never met the plant anywhere but there ; 
and after we had taken up sixty specimens, and planted them in a miniature Wardian case, fire had 
to be set to the very spot whore the Cyrtodeira grew. The sixty specimens took root readily, and 
in April last a boy was engaged to carry them on his saddle before him to Leon, a distance of about 
eighty leagues. All wont on well, till one evening darkness overtook us on tho immeuse grassy 
plains of Tipitapas, and the boy’s mule fell into one of those wide cracks which always form in tho 
tropics during the dry season where the ground is clayey. Down came the Wardian case with a 
heavy crash, and one-half of our plants were lost. Tho other half looked well enough till within 
two miles of the port of embarkation, when the waggon in which, for greater safety’s sake, they had 
been plaoed, went into a deep hole, and turned right over. This time all but six specimens wore 
destroyed, and these were so much injured that when we arrived at London, and handed them to 
Mr. Bull, of Chelsea, only one was in a sound condition ; but that one is now, I am happy to hear, 
doing well, and may become the progenitor of a numerous race. This little narrative shows what 
trouble the introduction of now plants requires, and how unforeseen accidents will interfere with 
well-devised plans. 
“ Cyrtodeira chontalensis is one of the most beautiful Gesneraceous plants I have seen. The leaves 
are purple on the under side, and on the upper light green (like those of Begonia smaragdina), with 
vory dark green blotches. The flowers appear in November and December, and aro lilac, and as 
large as a crown piece, with a yellow oentre, and a whitish tube. The roots are fibrous (not catkin- 
like rhizomes, as in the Achimenes tribe) ; and in habit tho plant resembles the only other known 
species of the genus (C. cupreata, Hanstein), which has smaller and scarlet flowers, and a hairy 
ovary. 
“ I may add that the climate of the Chontales gold region appears favourable to the development 
of plants with variegated leaves. There are some fine species of Costus (including, besides the 
well-known C. zebrinus and Malortianm , several new ones) ; two beautiful species of Cissus, one 
with bright scarlet flowers (also introduced by me) ; and several Marantacem and Aroideoe.” 
3s. 6(f. and 5s. 
NEW AND CHOICE GLOXINIAS. 
Those marked thus (*) have erect jloniers. 
♦ACTON GREEN, lobes a pinkish blue, shaded with white and veined with violet, white throat, 
spotted at the top. 3s. Gd. 
ALBA STRIATA, pure white, purple throat, dark lilac border, veined with white ; a very bean- 
tiful variety. 3s. 6 d. 
• BARON D’lTAJUBA, large flower, beautifully spotted with violet, and each petal blotched with 
violet, the throat white, thickly spotted with lilac violet. 3s. 6i 1. 
♦BARONNE D’lTAJUBA, large white flower, the lobes spotted with blue, rose throat, rayed and 
spotted with rosy carmine. 3s. 6 d. 
♦BELLE DE MEULAN, white tube and throat, purple violet lobes. 3s. 6 d. 
BERESFORD, bright rose, mouth surrounded with dark crimson, and encircled with plum. 2s. Gd. 
BERGERONNETTE, upper part of the flower fine rose, the threo lower lobes pure white. 3s. 6 d. 
♦CARLTON, bright blue, shaded with purple, white mouth and throat. 2s. Gd. 
CAVENDISH, lavonder, the under lobes and throat pure white ; very distinct. 2s. Gd. 
♦CEINTURE D’HEBE, lobes white, ribboned with lilac, and edged with white, throat cream 
colour. 3s. Gd. 
CERISE VIOLET, blue, shaded with violet. 2s. Gd. 
♦COMTE D’AVILA, tube white, throat rayed and spotted with lilac violet, limb white, ontircly 
covered with small violet blue dots. 3s. Gd. < 
COMTE DE GOMER, white throat, rayed with rosy lilac, lobes lilac. 3s. Gd. 
