





OF ORNAMENTAL EXOTIC PLANTS. 439 
and these are Cuphea and Lagerstremia. The name of Lythracee is taken from Lythrum, 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 Jacg. THE CUPHEA. 
Lin. Syst. DODECANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
Generic Cuaracter.—Calyx tubular, gibbous at the base on the | Gland under the ovarium thick. Style filiform; stigma simple or 
upper side; limb wide, twelve-toothed, with six of the teeth erect, the | rather bifid. Capsule membranous, covered by the calyx, one or two- 
other six minute or nearly obsolete, rising from the sinuses of the | celled, at length cleft by the deflexed placenta, as well as the calyx. 
inner teeth. Petals six or seven, unequal. Stamens eleven or four- | Seeds nearly orbicular, compressed, wingless. (G. Don.) 
teen, rarely six or seven, unequal, inserted in the throat of the calyx. 
Description, &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 beimg very small and 
generally of a dark purple. 
1.—CUPHEA MELVILLA Lindl. GENERAL MELVILLE’S CUPHEA. 
Synonyme.—Melvilla speciosa Anderson. Speciric Cuaracter.—Leaves lanceolate, scabrous, attenuated. 
Encravines.—Bot. Reg. t. 852; Paxt. Mag. of Bot., vol. viii., | Racemes terminal, simple, many-flowered. Calyx long, curved, two- 
p- 197; and our jig. 3,in Pl. 28. coloured, hairy. Petals wanting. 
Description, &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. THE COARSE-HAIRED CUPHEA. 
Synonyvme.—C. pubiflora Benth. sometimes two-flowered, and forming a kind of raceme at the apex. 
Eneravincs.—Bot. Reg. for 1846, t. 14; P Paxt. Mag. of Bot., | Calyx having an elongated and obtuse spur, viscously pubescent ; 
vol. xi., p. 241, under the name of C. strigulosa. mouth oblique, showing the two small petals. Stamens eleven, 
Spreciric Cuaracrer.—Stem, branches, and flowers pubescent. | exserted, glabrous. 
Leaves ovate or ovate-lanceolate, acute, rounded at the base. Peduncles 
Description, &c.—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. strigulosa, 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. CC. 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 ealyx, giving the gay orange and scarlet flowers a very singular appearance.” In the 
plate given in “ Paxton’s Magazine ” these potals are omitted, and the leaves are much larger than are shown in 
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