PENTAS CARNEA.— FLESH-COLOURED PENTAS. 
Class V. PENTANDRIA. Order I. MONOGYNIA. 
Natural Order, STELLAT^E. — THE MADDER TRIBE. 
The beautiful half-shrubby plant here depicted has been lately introduced to this country from the Con- 
tinent, and grown in several of the gardens and nurseries about London under the name of Sipanea carnea. 
It was first received at the Botanic Gardens of Kew, from Mr. Mackoy of Liege, and has since been ob- 
tained by Messrs. Rollisson and others, from the Jardin des Plantes at Paris. No memoranda were furnished 
with these plants respecting the native country of the species, and we are, consequently, unable to state 
with certainty what part of the world claims it as its production. Another species of the genus, P. parviflora, 
having been discovered by Dr. Vogel, in the late Niger expedition, growing in the western part of Tropical 
Africa, near Acera, and other plants nearly allied being found in the same neighbourhood. Sir William 
Hooker, in the Botanical Magazine, conjectures this to belong to the same locality. 
As an ornamental plant for the stove, or possibly for a warm greenhouse, this will be hailed as an 
acquisition of some importance. It has an excellent robust habit, and produces a number of partially- 
spreading branches, forming a handsome bushy plant, clothed with an abundance of large, broad foliage, 
concealing the stems to the very base with its lively verdure. These branches usually bear flowers as they 
are formed, even when the plant is in an exceedingly dwarf state, without appearing to have any injurious 
effect on the continuing growth of the specimen. The blossoms are collected into corymbose clusters, and 
stand erect, displaying their lovely soft flesh-coloured hue to the utmost advantage. When the flowers are 
first developed they are very pale, but gradually acquire colour with exposure. If the plant is kept growing 
in a favourable situation, it will continue to blossom, with the formation of new branches, for the greater 
part of the year; and such is the rapidity of its growth, that it will form a large bush in the course of a 
single season. 
Like most soft-wooded plants of quick growth, it requires a rather large pot, and a strong soil, rich in 
nourishing properties. And it will probably be beneficial to use an occasional application of manure water, 
to increase its vigour, especially where large specimens are desirable. In the summer months there is little 
doubt that it will be found to succeed satisfactorily in a close greenhouse, although in winter and spring a 
little more warmth is necessary. 
It is easily propagated by taking off the extremities of the young shoots as soon as they have acquired 
a little firmness'; and, inserting them in a pot of sand, covered with a bell glass, and placed in heat, they 
will take root in ten days or a fortnight, and should be immediately potted into separate pots and encouraged 
to grow. 
The generic name, Pentas, has been applied by Mr. Bentham, from the division of the corolla being 
quinary instead of four-cleft, as in other allied genera. Although general, this is not constant, as flowers 
on the same head are four and five-parted. Three or four plants, which have hitherto been arranged under 
other genera, are suspected by Mr. Bentham to belong rightly to this. 
Then came cold February, sitting 
In an old waggon, for he could not ride, 
Drawne of two fishes, for the season fitting, 
\yhich through the flood before did softly slide 
And swim away ; yet had he by his side 
His plough and harness fit to till the ground, 
And tooles to prune the trees before the pride 
Of hasting prime did make them burgeon round. — Spenser. 
This month has Pisces or the fishes for its zodiacal sign. Numa, who was chosen by the Roman 
people to succeed Romulus as their king, and became their legislator, placed it the second in the year, as it 
remains with us, and dedicated it to Neptune, the lord of water. Its name is from the Februa, or Feralia, 
sacrifices offered to the manes of the gods at this season; Ovid in his Fasti attests the derivation: — 
In ancient times, purgations had the name 
Of Februa, various customs prove the same; 
The pontiffs from the rex and Jlamen crave 
A lock of wool ; in former days they gave 
To wool the name of Februa. 
A pliant branch cut from a lofty pine, 
Which round the temples of the priests they twine, 
Is Februa called ; which if the priest demand, 
A branch of pine is put into his hand ; 
In short, with whatsoe’er our hearts we hold 
Are purified, was Februa termed of old ; 
Lustrations are from hence, from hence the name 
Of this our month of February came ; 
In which the priests of Pan processions made; 
In which the tombs were also purified 
Of such as had no dirges when they died ; 
For our religious fathers did maintain, 
Purgations expiated every stain 
Of guilt and sin ; from Greece the custom came, 
But here adopted by another name ; 
The Grecians held that pure lustrations could 
Efface an impious deed, or guilt of blood. 
Weak men! to think that water can make clean 
A bloody crime, or any sinful stain. Massey’s Ovid. 
