OF ORNAMENTAL PERENNIALS. 305 
flowers being disposed in long terminal panicled racemes. It is a native of Mexico, whence it was introduced in 
1824, by the late A. B. Lambert, Esq. It should be grown in strong, rich soil, and it requires a little protection 
during severe frosts. 
21.— PENTSTEMON GENTIANOIDES, H. B. et K. THE GENTIAN-LIKE PENTSTEMON. 
pubescent ; leaves ovate-lanceolate, quite entire, smooth ; segments of 
the calyx ovate ; corolla beardless ; sterile filament glabrous. 
Engravings.— Bot. Reg. for 1838, t. 3 ; and our fig. 1, in PI. 80, 
of var. splendens. 
Specific Character.— Stem extremely slender in the upper part, 
Dkscription, &c. — This very popular plant is a native of Mexico, whence it was introduced in 1825 ; 
though for many years it was but little cultivated from its being supposed to be tender. About the year 1838, 
it was, however, found that it would grow freely in the open air, and stand the winter unprotected in any situa- 
tion that was tolerably dry. It also seeds freely, and thus is very easily propagated. It grows about three feet 
high, and flowers freely from June to September; forming one of our most ornamental border flowers. It also 
varies very much when raised from seed, and some of the varieties thus raised are extremely splendid, particularly 
that figured in PI. 86, the flowers of which are nearly three times as large as those of the species. The following 
mode of treating the plant when raised from seeds, is given in the Botanical Register : — " The seeds should be 
sown about the middle of May, on a bed of light rich soil (covering the seeds with a little sandy peat), in the 
open border, but not fully exposed to the mid-day sun ; the plants will be fit to pot in the autumn (September), 
and should be kept in a cold pit all the winter : they should be planted out where they are to remain about the 
middle of April." As this is one of the species which flower so freely as to exhaust themselves, it seldom lasts 
above two or three years ; unless about half the flower-buds are pinched off as soon as they appear. 
22.— PENTSTEMON MURRAYANUS, Hook. MR. MURRAY'S PENTSTEMON. 
connately perfoliate ; flowers racemose ; corolla perfectly smooth; tube 
subcylindrical, longer than the stamens ; sterile filament perfectly 
naked. 
Engravings. — Bot. Mag., t. 3472 ; and out fig. 1, in PI. 8L 
Specific Character. — Very tall ; extremely smooth, glaucous ; 
leaves entire, oblong ; lower ones spathulate ; upper ones or bracts 
Description, &c. — This plant has been called stately from the habit of its growth. The stem grows from 
three to five feet high, bearing a panicled raceme of very showy flowers, which are sometimes so numerous, that 
Sir William Hooker says he counted 56 blossoms on one raceme. Tiiis species is a native of Texas, whence it 
was introduced in 1835 ; and it proves quite hardy in British gardens, where it only requires to be planted in 
beds, or borders, in any common garden soil. 
23.— PENTSTEMON ARGUTUS, Pamt. THE CUT-LEAVED PENTSTEMON. 
Enoiiavings. — Paxt. Mag. of Bot., Vol. VL, p. 271; and our^ji. 2, ; pubescence; stems numerous, much branched towards the base. 
in PI. 81 . I Leaves partly connate, deeply serrated ; upp^r ones obovate or lanceolate; 
Specific Character.— Plant slightly suffruticose, covered with a short : lower ones spathulate. 
Description, &c. — This species ia also a native of Texas, and bears considerable resemblance to the last, 
except that its stem is slightly pubescent, and its leaves are deeply serrated. If planted in the open border, the 
stem should be cut down to within a few inches of the ground in autumn, and the bed should have a slight 
R B 
