WHITFIELDIA LATERITIA. BRICK-COLOURED WHITFIELDIA. 
Class XIV. DIDYNAMIA.— Order II. ANGIOSPERMIA. 
Natural Order, ACANTHACE^. THE JUSTICIA TRIBE. 
Generic Character. — Calyx ample, coloured, sub-infundibuliform, with two bracts at the base, deeply 
four or five cleft ; segments lanceolate, acute, erect, concave, nerved ; bracts mostly coloured, opposite, 
obovate, acute, three-nerved, appressed. Corolla between campanulate and funnel-shaped, twice the length 
of the calyx; tube with fifteen elevated ridges; limb two-lipped, spreading; upper lip smaller, two-cleft; 
lower lip three cleft, all the segments ovate, acute. Stamens four, didynamous, almost included, with an 
obsolete rudiment of a fifth. Filaments smooth. Anthers oblong-linear, two-celled ; cells opposite, de- 
hiscing longitudinally. Ovary compressed, ovate, glabrous, two-celled ; cells bi-ovulate ; ovules ascending. 
Disk hypogynous, large, fleshy, cup-shaped. Style scarcely exceeding the stamens, thread-shaped. Stigma 
small, capitate. Fruit unknown. 
Specific Character. — Plant a smooth low-branching evergreen shrub. Branches spreading, 
terete, rather tortuous. Leaves opposite, entire, ovate or oblong-ovate, somewhat leathery, waved, penni- 
nerved. Petioles short, flat or slightly grooved above. Racemes terminal, somewhat one-sided, deflexed. 
Pedicels opposite (brachiate or cruciate,) drooping, bracteated at the base. Bracteas lanceolate, partially 
membranaceous, the lowest pair leaf-like ; two other large, ovate, acute, opposite bracteas at the base of 
the calyx, appressed to it. Flowers slightly pubescent; calyx, corolla, and calycine bracts all brick-coloured. 
Stamens and style shorter than the corolla. 
About the middle of last November we were favoured with specimens of this handsome stove shrub, 
by Mr. Jennings, the Earl of Derby’s gardener at Knowsley Hall, Lancashire, and from these our figure 
was prepared. Mr. Jennings informs us, that it was received there in 1841, from Sierra Leone, and has 
proved an excellent thing, flowering through most of the winter months. Towards the close of last year, 
and for two or three months after, we observed specimens from the same source, flowering in the Royal 
Botanic Gardens at Kew. 
On bestowing the above appellation. Sir William Hooker observes, “ As a genus of Acanthaceae, I 
can refer it to no described one, though its affinity (yet not very close) is probably with Geissomeria, 
Lindl. ; and I have dedicated it to Thomas Whitfield, Esq., who at the risk of his life, and as we have 
reason to know, with much injury to his constitution, has made several voyages to, and journeys into, the 
interior of Western-tropical Africa, and formed extensive collections of living plants and animals. The 
majority of these have been sent to the Right Hon. the Earl of Derby ; and the Royal Gardens of Kew 
have not failed to benefit by that distinguished nobleman’s love and patronage of science.” 
The species is a shrubby evergreen of good appearance, and will no doubt prove a useful thing in col- 
lections where it is essential to keep up a good display of blossom during the duller months. The blossoms 
are not remarkably bright coloured, but they are plentifully produced in racemes which stand out well 
above the foliage ; most of the flowers on a raceme, moreover, point one way. 
As it admits of ready increase by cuttings taken off during the growing season, and placed in a damp 
heat to strike root, it will doubtless soon become plentiful. For those who have not space to keep large 
specimens, the best plan will be to renew them from cuttings every or every other year, and discard the 
old ones. Young plants thus formed early in summer, and favourably treated, will make neat dwarf 
flowering bushes against winter. 
By pruning back rather closely in spring, reducing the ball of earth, and then planting in a smaller- 
sized pot, the old plants will break vigorously. Their strength must be supported afterwards with more 
pot-room, and liberal watering, to produce large-sized specimens. As the quantity of flower depends 
in a great measure on the number of branches, it will be proper to facilitate the protrusion of side-growths 
by shortening the earlier summer shoots. Those who possess a stove conservatory will find this a suitable 
shrub for planting in a border. 
It may be grown in a loamy soil, mixed with about a third part of peat, or the same proportion of 
leaf mould and dung, accordingly as the aim is to form small or large plants.* 
The “ Mirror of the Months,” tells us that with June, — Summer is come — come, but not to stay; at 
least, not at the commencement of this month ; and how should it, unless we expect that the seasons will 
be kind enough to conform to the devices of man, and suffer themselves to be called by what name and 
at what period he pleases ? He must die and leave them a legacy (instead of they him) before there will 
be any show of justice in this. Till then the beginning of June will continue to be the latter end of May, 
by rights ; as it was according to the old style. And, among a thousand changes, in what one has the 
old style been improved upon by the new ? Assuredly not in that of substituting the utile for the dulce, 
in any eyes but those of almanack-makers. Let all lovers of spring, therefore be fully persuaded that, for 
* We are indebted to that delightful work ‘Paston’s Magazine of Botany’ for our figure and description. 
