140 
THE LADIES’ FLOWER-GARDEN 
the plate iu the “ Botanical Eegister.” The latter, however, is an exact representation of the species ; as I 
compai’ed it with the flower’s on a plant growing in the open air in my little garden at Bayswater, which flowered 
profusely all the summer, and continued to do so till it was killed by frost m November. 
3._CUPHEA PLATYCENTRA Benth. THE BROAD-CENTRED CUPHEA. 
Synonyme. — C. tubiflora Ilort. 
Engravings. — Paxt. Mag. of Bot., vol. xiii., p. 267 ; and our fig. 2, 
in PI. 28. 
Specific Character. — Leaves petiolate, ovate, acuminate, slightly 
scabrous, attenuated at the base. Calyx elongated, six-toothed ; spur 
dilated. Petals wanting. Stamens glabrous. 
Description, &c. — This very pretty little plant is a dwarf evergreen shrub, which will grow and flower 
profusely in the open ground during the summer months, but which requires a greenhouse dm’ing winter. When 
kept constantly in the greenhouse it remains in flower nearly all the year, particularly if the tips of the long shoots 
be cut occasionally so as to force it to form short side shoots, as it is on these chiefly that it flowers. The species 
is a native of Mexico, from which country its seeds were accidentally imported in the earth sent over with some 
Mexican Orchideie in 1840, to J. Anderson, Esq., of The Holme, Regent’s Park. 
4.— CUPHEA CORDATA Buiz et Pav. THE HEART-SHAPED CUPHEA. 
Engravings. — Bot. Mag., t. 4208 ; and our fig. 1, in PL 28. 
Specific Character. — Pubescent. Stem suffruticose. Leaves 
ovate or cordate-ovate, opposite, nearly sessile, quite entire. Raceme 
panicled, bracteate. Caly.x coloured, elongated at the base into an 
obtuse spur ; mouth oblique, six-toothed. Stamens eleven, in three 
series. Two of the petals superior, subrotund, very large ; the other 
four extremely small. 
Description, &c. — This very showy plant has such a different appearance, from the large size of its two 
principal petals, to that of the other greenhouse species of the genus, that it is difficult to recognise it as belonging 
to them. It is very showy, and flowers freely. It is a native of Peru, but it appears to require more heat than 
most of the other plants imported from that country, as it requires to be kept in a greenhouse all the yeai'. 
OTHER SPECIES OF CUPHEA. 
CUPHEA MINIATA Eort. 
A very showy species from the brilliant vermilion colour of the petals, which are rather large. The upper 
pai’t of the calyx is of a rich purple, and the lower part of a yellowish-green. It is supposed to be a native of 
South America, but as it was sent to England from either France or Belgium, its native counti’y is not known. 
It was introduced in 1847. 
GENUS II. 
LAGERSTRCEMIA Lin. THE LAGERSTRCEMIA. 
Un. Syst. ICOSANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
Generic Character. — Calyx bibracteolate at tbe base, six-cleft ; 
lobes distinct, but none produced from tbe sinuses. Petals six, ungui- 
culate, alternating with calycine lobes, and inserted at tbe top of the 
calycine tube between its lobes. Stamens from eighteen to thirty. 
inserted lower down in the calycine tube than the petals. Capsule 
three to six-valved, girded by the caly'x, three to six-celled. Seeds 
expanded into membranous wings. 
Description, &c. — Ornamental trees or shrubs with quadrangular branches and opposite leaves, and panicles 
or racemes of puiqile, red, or white showy flowers. Most of the species requme a stove, but L. indica may be 
grown in a warm conservatory. The name was given to the genus in honour of Magnus Lagerstroem of Gottenberg. 
