PLEUROPHYLLUM SPECIOSUif. 
179 
PLEUPOPHYLLUM SPECIOSUM. 
(Dr. J. D. Hooker.) 
THE SHOWY BIB-LEAF. 
This plant has also been named Albinea 
oresigenesa, by Hombron and Jacquinot, in a 
French book called Voyage au Pole Sud. It is 
one of the larger growing class of herbaceous 
plants, and must have a very grand appearance 
when in bloom. It grows from two to three 
feet high, with an upright stem, at the base of 
which — that is, springing from the roots — are 
the large plaited or ribbed leaves, reminding 
one of those of our common rib - grass, but 
very much larger. At the top of the stem is 
situated the elongated terminal raceme of 
flowers, which are each two inches across, and 
of a lively purple colour. It is found both in 
Campbell's Island and Lord Auckland's Group, 
growing near the sea, chiefly on wet banks and 
in marshes ; and it is also met with ascending 
the mountains ; but in the latter situations it 
exists only in a stunted form. 
The plant is, we believe, not yet introduced 
to this country in a living state. It was met 
with by Dr. Joseph Dalton Hooker, who ac- 
companied the exploring expedition to the 
South Polar Seas, under Sir J. C. Ross, and 
was brought home by him among his collection 
of dried plants. There is no doubt it would 
prove to be quite hardy in this country, and 
would form a very desirable herbaceous peren- 
nial of the larger growing class, suitable for 
the back part of flower borders, accompanying 
the Dahlia, Chrysanthemum, perennial Sun- 
flower, and other plants of that class. Judging 
from its habitat, it will most probably be 
found to thrive best in situations where the 
soil is moderately moist. 
The genus belongs to the natural order of 
Composite plants, and ranks in the section 
(Tubuliflorae), in which the hermaphrodite 
florets are tubular. The present species, 
P. speciosum, has been beautifully figured in 
Dr. Hooker's Flora Antarctica, from which 
figure our engraving was prepared. 
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