CU'PHEA PLATYCEN'TRA. 
BROAD -SPURRED CUPHEA. 
Ctass. 
DODECANDRIA. 
Order. 
MONOGY NI A . 
Natural Order. 
LYTHRACE.E. 
Native of 
Height. 
Flowers 
Duration. 
Introduced 
Mexico. 
15 inches. 
June to Oct. 
Perennial. 
in 1845. 
No. 1145. 
The Greek cbphos, a curve, is the foundation of 
the present generic name ; the crooked capsule of 
the plant being hereby alluded to. 
Although this very desirable species of Cuphea 
has long been known to botanists, the living plant 
has but lately been obtained. Its possession now, 
too, is more a circumstance of accident than design, 
it having sprung up in the garden of J. Anderson, 
Esq., of the Holme, Regent’s Park, amongst earth 
that had been attached to fresh-imported plants 
from Mexico. It is a plant that certainly will con- 
tinue to be a favourite, not alone for its neatness, 
and beauty — it must not be called splendour, but 
for the different purposes to which it is so well 
adapted. Its growth is low and compact, and its 
gay little dowers become regularly distributed over 
it, partly from their permanence, and partly from 
the habit of the plant ; continuing thus in beauty 
from month to month, with a duration we are al- 
most induced to say unequalled by any plant tve 
have possessed. Being unintrusive in growth, it 
may be commonly mixed with other plants in the 
borders during summer, where its colour will form 
287 . 
