TETKANE'MA MEXICA'NUM. 
MEXICAN TETRANEMA. 
Class. 
DIUYNAMIA. 
Order. 
ANGIOSPERSIIA. 
Natural Order. 
SCROPHULARIACE^. 
Native of 
Height. 
Flowers in 
Duration. 
Introduced 
Mexico. 
7 inches. 
May, June. 
Perennial. 
in 1841 ? 
No. 1007. 
Tetranema is deduced from tetra, four; and 
NEMA, a stamen ; in allusion to the flower j^ossess- 
ing hut four stamens, in contradistinction to its 
near ally — Pentstemon, which has five. This plant, 
when introduced, was thought to be a Pentstemon, 
but in the Botanical Register we are told that “Mr. 
Bentham, who has given particular attention to 
this order of plants, is of opinion that this is cer- 
tainly a new genus, very near Pentstemon; with 
the same calyx and corolla, but A\dthout any trace 
(or very little) of the sterile stamen so conspicuous 
in Pentstemon. It also differs, he says, from Cap- 
raria and Russelia, in its decidedly two-lipped 
corolla, and is farther removed from other genera.” 
For the opportunity of figuring this novelty we 
are indebted to the Messrs. Pope of Handsworth, 
who never fail to obtain all such newly-introduced 
plants as are really valuable. They esteem it a 
desirable frame plant, requiring a prominent situa- 
tion, from its low stature ; and very ornamental, 
from its flowering so abundantly. 
It does not seem to be much moi’e than bien- 
nial. May be easily raised from seeds. 
