PENTSTE'MON SPECIO'SUM. 
SHOWY PENTSTEMON. 
Class. Order. 
DIDYNAMIA. ANGIOSFEB Ml A . 
Natural Order. 
SCKOPHULARIN*. 
Native of 
Height. 
Flowers in 
Duration. 
Introduced 
N. America. 
3 feet. 
July, Sept. 
Perennial. 
in 1827. 
No. 373. 
The derivation of the word Pentsteraon is given 
under No. 316. Speciosum, from the Latin, signi- 
fying specious or showy. The use of incorrectly 
formed adjectives to the word Pentstemon, though 
generally adopted, should not be continued. 
One of the principal gratifications arising out of 
the study and practical cultivation of any depart- 
ment of natural history, is the unexpected accession 
of new and beautiful objects. In this age of bota- 
nical enterprise, these pleasures occur day after day ; 
and when the pleasure of possession cannot be had, 
that of anticipation, — that eternally springing hope 
of the soul,yieldsmuchof the same balm to the mind; 
w hilst stimulating to action, it invigorates the animal 
powers, and increases the capability of enjoyment. 
The Pentstemon ovatum, from the novelty of its 
colour, as compared with all that preceded it, was 
welcomed with peculiar pleasure. It is, however, 
greatly surpassed by our present subject, the Pent- 
stemon speciosum, whose attractive paniclesof splen- 
did blue flowers, far exceed in beauty the blossoms 
of the Pentstemon ovatum, which is the only species, 
at present introduced, that much resembles it. 
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