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I 
SIPH0CAMPYU7S AMCENUS. 
SIPHOCAHPYLUS AMCENTJS. 
Nat. Order. — Lobeliacil3E. 
Generic Character. — Siphocampylus, Pohl. — Calyx with 
an obconical, turbinate, or hemispherical tube, adherent to the 
ovary, limb superior, five-toothed. Corolla inserted at the 
summit of the tube of the calyx, tubular, the tube entire, in- 
curved or more rarely straight ; limb five-toothed, two-lipped, 
the segments nearly equal, or the upper two rather longer. 
Stamens five, inserted with the corolla; filaments and anthers 
connate, the lower two or all the anthers bearded or mueronate 
at the tip. Ovary inferior, the apex slightly exserted, two- 
celled ; ovules numerous, anatropous, on fleshy placentas ad- 
hering longitudinally to each side of the dissepiment ; style in- 
cluded ; stiyma exserted, two-lobed, lobes divergent, orbiculate. 
Capsule two-celled, longitudinally two-valved at the exserted 
apex. Seeds numerous, small, pitted ; embryo orthotropous in 
the axis of fleshy albumen, radicle next the hilum, centripetal. 
— Under-shrubs of tropical America ; leaves alternate or oppo- 
site, stalked, serrate ; flowers axillary, solitary, stalked, rarely 
crowded into a raceme or corymb, red. — [Endlichcr Gen. 
Plant., 3059.) 
SIPHOCA.MPTLUS amcsnvs, Planchon. — Charming Siphocam- 
pylus. — Stem branched, sub-herbaceous, and, like the erect an- 
gular branches, clothed with powdery pubescence ; leaves 
alternate, oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, acute, narrowed into 
a short petiole, margins with divergent glandular teeth, the 
upper face with a silvery lustre, the lower with sparing short 
pubescence ; the upper leaves passing gradually into narrow 
lanceolate bracts ; racemes terminal, many-flowered, pedicles 
longer than the calyx ; calyx with a patclliform tube rather 
flattened at the base, teeth half lanceolate, adpressed to the co- 
rolla, glandular-dentate ; corolla small, rather straight, lobes 
narrow, the upper ascending and divergent only at the tips; 
anthers included, bearded at the top, otherwise glabrous. 
Syn. — Siphocampylus amccnus, Planchon inplore dcsSerres, 
vi.. t. 619. 
BESCBIPTION. — A half shrubby branching plant with the somewhat herbaceous stem, and 
erect angular branches clothed with very minute dust-like pubescence. The leaves, which 
are alternate, are oblong-lanceolate, lj to 2 inches long, acuminate, acute, narrowed into a short 
stalk at the base, the margin serrulate with fine spreading glandular teeth, slightly undulated, 
the upper side exhibiting a silvery lustre from the presence of a minutely papillose epidermis 
(not hairy) of an agreeable green, the lower face with a very short scattered pubescence. The 
upper leaves change gradually into narrow lanceolate bracts. The inflorescence consists of 
terminal many-flowered racemes, the pedicels being longer than the calyx. The calyx has a 
patellifomi tube with a flatfish base, and semi-lanceolate purplish teeth, appressed to the 
corolla and giandularly toothed. Corolla small, rather straight, of a charming orange-red, the 
lobes narrow, acute, the upper only ascending and diverging at the tips ; anthers included in 
the tube, bearded with hairs at the tips, the rest glabrous ; the filaments very glabrous all but 
their base. — A. H. 
History, &c. — This charming species appears to have been introduced to the gardens of the 
King of the Belgians at Laeken, about two years since ; and is said to have been obtained from 
the soil which was imported with a collection of Brazilian Orchids, sent by M. Ghicsbreght. It 
is probably from some part of Central America rather than from Brazil. From Belgium it has 
reached this country through the establishment of M. Van Houttc, of Ghent. We are indebted 
to Messrs. Knight and Perry of the Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, for the opportunity of making the 
drawing from which the annexed figure has been prepared. It first bloomed with them in 
November 1 850, when our drawing was made ; and subsequently in the course of the past summer, 
so that it may be considered a frco-blooming species, as it is also a rich-coloured and ver)' orna- 
mental one. 
It would appeal - to be a more vigorous growing plant than our plate represents, from the 
figure published in M. Van Houtte's Flore des Serves, where the racemes of flowers are shown 
to be several inches in length. 
Cdxtuue. — This plant, which is of herbaceous or sub-shrubby habit, may be propagated by 
cuttings of the young shoots, planted in very light soil, and kept in a gentle moist heat. 
Established plants succeed best in a compost of light sandy loam, mixed with about a fourth 
part of peat soil. The soil must be kept free and open by the use of a perfect system of 
drainage, so that the roots are not subjected to injury from the presence of stagnant water, 
which they do not like, although, when in free growth, they require to lie liberally supplied 
with fresh water. We understand it succeeds best in the intermediate heat of a cool stove ; 
though young plants raised from cuttings in a hotbed, would require to be nursed on in a some- 
what warmer atmosphere until they have acquired some degree of strength. — M. 
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