OSBECKIA CANESCENS— HOARY OSBECKIA. 
Class III. OCTANDRIA.— Order I. MONOGYNIA. 
Natural Order, MELASTROMACEiE. 
Character of the Genus, Osbeckia .* — Tube of the Calyx ovate or oblong, joined with the base of the 
ovarium, frequently clothed with setae palmate at the base, or a stellate pubescence, very rarely a simple 
pubescence, limb with four or five divisions, •alternating with the appendices. Petals of the corolla four or 
five, inserted in the throat of the calyx, ovate or obovate, and alternate with the divisions of the calyx. 
Stamens eight or ten, inserted with the petals, somewhat equal. Anthers oblong, linear somewhat bowed, 
rostrate, one-pored, connective thickening to the base, with two short spurs, or ears projecting forward, of 
absent, four or five celled, many-ovuled. Style filiform, thickening beneath the apex. Stigma punctiform. 
Capsule dry, including the truncated tube of the calyx, four or five celled, loculicidal, four or five valved, 
Seeds many, cochleate. 
Description of the Species, Osbeckia Canescens. — Stem somewhat shrubby, square, unbranched, about 
two feet and a half high, covered thickly with a stellate pubescence, giving it a roughness, which is very 
perceptible in the touch. Leaves heart-shaped at the base, opposite, decussate, shortly petiolate, and densely 
covered on each side with the same stellate pubescence which is found on the stem, prominently from five- 
seven nerved. Flowers shortly pedunculate, large, and showy, of a delicate and pleasing purple colour, 
arranged in a paniculate raceme. Bracts large, pinkish, half the length of the calyx, pubescent, concave, 
half enclosing the alabastum, very deciduous. Petals four, inversely heart-shaped, notched at the end, of 
short duration. Calyx covered with a stellate pubescence, divided into four parts, each part regular ovate, 
acuminate persistent, alternate with the divisions are found subulate appendages, which are pubescent, 
similar to the other parts of the calyx. Filaments yellow, decidous, ten, attached to an elevated rim situate 
at the base of the divisions of the calyx. Connective longer than the filaments, curved, bifid at the base, 
of a bright purple colour, marked with yellow at the base. Anthers of a purplish blue, half the length of 
the connective. Pollen white, smooth, having a transparent line in the centre. Style twice as long as the 
stamens and anthers, curved, pinkish, smooth. Stigma situate at the extreme apex. Ovarium five-sided, 
pubescent, five-celled, five-valved. Seeds numerous, attached to placentae, arising from the centre of the 
ovarium, and situate in the centre of each valve. 
Popular and Geographical Notice. — The genus Osbeckia is composed of species which are exceedingly 
handsome and shotvy, as may be witnessed by the one now figured. They are all shrubs, or suffruticose 
plants, inhabiting the tropical parts of Asia, Africa, and America. 
Introduction ; Where grown ; Culture. — This plant was introduced from the Royal Berlin Botanic 
Garden into the Birmingham Horticultural Gardens, in the year 1838, and from a plant in the latter esta- 
blishment our drawing was taken. It was there treated as a stove plant, but possibly may even be suitable 
for ornamenting the open ground during the autumn months. It flowers in August and September. It 
should be planted in loam and peat, and may be increased by cuttings, and also by seeds. 
Derivation of the Names. — The generic name is given in honour of Mr. P. Osbeck, a Swedish clergy- 
man and naturalist ; the specific, canescens, from its hoary appearance. 
William Howitt has some picturesque remarks on the characteristic appearances of April, prefaced by 
an apposite quotation- from the sweet singer of Israel. 
Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it ; thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God,, which is full of water ; thou preparest them 
corn, when thou hast so provided for it. 
Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly ; thou settlest the furrows thereof ; thou makest it soft with showers ; thou blessest 
the springing thereof. 
Thou crownest the year with thy goodness, and thy paths drop fatness. 
They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness, and the little hills rejoice on every side. 
The pastures are clothed with flocks, and the valleys also are covered over with corn ; they shout for joy ; they also sing. 
Psalm lxv. 9—13. 
The month of April is proverbial for its fickleness ; for its intermingling showers, and flitting gleams 
of sunshine : for all species of weather in one day ; for a wild mixture of clear and cloudy skies, greenness 
and nakedness, flying hail and abounding blossoms. But to the lover of nature, it is not the less charac- 
terized by the spirit of expectation with which it imbues the mind. We are irresistibly led to look forward, 
to anticipate, with a delightful enthusiasm, the progress of the season. It is one of the excellent laws of 
Providence, that our minds shall be insensibly moulded to a sympathy with that season which is passing, 
and become deprived, in a certain degree, of the power of recalling the images of those which are gone by ; 
* For the figure and and aecount of the Osbeckia, as well as of the Goldfussia in our last numbei, we are indebted to Mr. Maund’s 
attractive work “ The Botanist.” 
