STE'VIA PURPU'REA. 
PURPLE STEVIA. 
Order. 
POLYGAMIA jEQUALIS. 
Natural Order. 
CORYMBIFERiE. 
Native of 
Height. 
Flowers in 
Duration. 
Introduced 
Mexico. 
2 feet. 
September. 
Perennial. 
in 1812. 
No. 180. 
Stevia was adopted as the name of this genus of 
plants by Cavanilles, in honour of Dr. Steve, or 
Esteve, a physician, who was botanical professor 
at the university of Valencia about the middle of 
the sixteenth century. 
The Stevia purpurea is herbaceous, and of rather 
low and slender growth, requiring support. It is 
less showy than most of our popular favourites, but 
when growing together in sufficient quantity, and in 
full flower, its corymbs of delicate blossoms are by 
no means uninteresting, nor are they wanting in 
ornament. 
It may be planted in an open warm border, if 
the soil be light and tolerably dry ; but as it readily 
strikes root from cuttings, taken about Midsummer, 
it will be advisable to reserve one or more plants 
in a pot, to be protected in a cold frame, during 
winter. This will render its preservation sure, 
which may be somewhat doubtful as respects the 
plants in the open ground, in case of a very severe 
winter. Sandy loam, either alone, or mixed with a 
small quantity of peat, is very congenial to the 
growth of any of the species of Stevia. 
Hort. Kew. 2, v. 4, 510. 
Class. 
SYNGENBSIA. 
