OF ORNAMENTAL EXOTIC PLANTS. 
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and these are Cuphea and Lagerstrmmia. The name of Lythracem is taken from I/ythnmi, the botanic name for 
the Purple Loosestrife, and it signifies black blood, in allusion to the peculiarly dark blackish-purple observable in 
the flowers of the Lythrum. 
GENUS I. 
CUPHEA Jacq. THE CUPHEA. 
Lin. Syst. DODECANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
Gland under the ovarium thick. Style filiform ; stigma simple or 
rather bifid. Capsule inemhianous, covered by the calyx, one or two- 
celled, at length cleft by the deflexed placenta, as well as the calyx. 
Seeds nearly orbicular, compressed, wingless. ((?. Don.) 
Generic CniRiOTER. — Calyx tubular, gibbous at the base on the 
upper side ; limb wide, twelve-toothed, with six of the teeth erect, the 
other six minute or nearly obsolete, rising from the sinuses of the 
inner teeth. Petals six or seven, unequal. Stamens eleven or four- 
teen, rarely six or seven, unequal, inserted in the throat of the calyx, 
Desceiption, &c. — The species which compose this genus consist chiefly of half-hardy annuals and stove 
perennials or small shrubs. Some greenhouse species have, however, been recently introduced. The name of 
Cuphea signifies curved, in allusion to the curved form of the capsule. Like the Fuchsia, the most conspicuous 
part of the flower of these plants is the calyx, which is brightly coloured, the petals being very small and 
generally of a dark purple. 
SYNONYfdE. — Melvilla speciosa Anderson. 
Engravings. — Bot. Reg. t. 852 ; Paxt. Mag. of Bot., vol. viii., 
p. 197 ; and out fig. 3, in PI. 28. 
L— CUPHEA MELVILLA Lindl GENERAL MELVILLE’S CUPHEA. 
Specific Character. — Leaves lanceolate, scabrous, attenuated. 
Racemes terminal, simple, many-flowered. Calyx long, curved, two- 
coloured, hairy. Petals wanting. 
Desceiption, &c. — This very handsome species was originally supposed to be a stove plant, as it is a native 
of Guiana, whence it was introduced in 1823. As it was found very difficult to flower in the stove, it was very 
seldom seen, but lately it has been found to grow freely and flower abundantly when kept in a warm greenhouse, 
as it appears to be injured by being exposed to too much heat. It must, however, be kept under glass all the year. 
2.— CUPHEA STRIGILLOSA Lindl. 
Synonyme. — C. pubiflora Benth. 
Engravings. — Bot. Reg. for 1846, t. 14 ; ? Paxt. Mag. of Bot., 
vol. xi., p. 241, under the name of Q. strigulosa. 
Specific Character. — Stem, branches, and flowers pubescent. 
Leaves ovate or ovate-lanceolate, acute, rounded at the base. Peduncles 
THE COARSE-HAIRED CUPHEA. 
sometimes two-flowered, and fonning a kind of raceme at the apex. 
Calyx having an elongated and obtuse spur, viscously pubescent ; 
mouth oblique, showing the two small petals. Stamens eleven, 
exserted, glabrous. 
Desceiption, &o. — This species Dr. Lindley states he received a dried specimen of, with a query asking if it 
were the C. strigulosa of Kunth. This species, however, he states, is quite distinct. There is, however, a plant 
figured in “ Paxton’s Magazine of Botany ” under the name of C. strigidosa, which is certainly quite distinct from 
the one figured in the “ Botanical Register,” as there are no petals visible in the flowers, and the calyxes are 
much more highly coloured. C. strigillosa appears to have been introduced about 1844. It is a very pretty plant, 
shrubby, and producing a great profusion of flowers, which are remarkable for having only two petals, which are 
“ stuck on one side only of the calyx, giving the gay orange and scarlet flowers a very singular appearance.” In the 
plate given in “ Paxton’s Magazine ” these petals are omitted, and the leaves are much larger than are shown in 
