

140 THE LADIES’ FLOWER-GARDEN 
the plate in the ‘“ Botanical Register.” The latter, however, is an exact representation of the species; as I 
compared it with the flowers 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 in November. 

3.—CUPHEA PLATYCENTRA Benth, THE BROAD-CENTRED CUPHEA. | 
Synonyme.—C. tubiflora Hort. Speciric Cuaracter.—Leaves petiolate, ovate, acuminate, slightly 
EnGravines.—Paxt. Mag. of Bot., vol. xiii., p. 267 ; and our fig. 2, | scabrous, attenuated at the base. Calyx elongated, six-toothed ; spur 
in PI, 28. 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 during 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 Orchidez in 1846, to J. Anderson, Esq., of The Holme, Regent’s Park. 
4—CUPHEA CORDATA Ruiz et Pav. THE HEART-SHAPED CUPHEA. 
Enecravines.—Bot. Mag., t. 4208; and our fig. 1, in Pl. 28. obtuse spur; mouth oblique, six-toothed. Stamens eleven, in three 
Speciric Cuaracter.—Tubescent. Stem suffruticose. Leaves | series. Two of the petals superior, subrotund, very large ; the other 
ovate or cordate-ovate, opposite, nearly sessile, quite entire. Raceme | four extremely small. 
panicled, bracteate. Calyx coloured, elongated at the base into an 
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 greeuhouse 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 year. 


nnn 

OTHER SPECIES OF CUPHEA. 
CUPHEA MINIATA Hort. | 
A yery showy species from the brilliant vermilion colour of the petals, which are rather large. The upper 
part 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 country is not known. | 
It was introduced in 1847. 
LAGERSTRGIMIA Lin. THE LAGERSTRGMIA. 
Lin. Syst. ICOSANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
Generic Cuaracter.—Calyx bibracteolate at the base, six-cleft; | inserted lower down in the calycine tube than the petals. Capsule 
lobes distinct, but none produced from the sinuses. Petals six, ungui- | three to six-valved, girded by the calyx, three to six-celled. Seeds 
culate, alternating with calycine lobes, and inserted at the top of the | expanded into membranous wings. 
calycine tube between its lobes. Stamens from eighteen to thirty, 
Descrietion, &c.—Ornamental trees or shrubs with quadrangular branches and opposite leaves, and particles 

| 
or racemes of purple, red, or white showy flowers. Most of the species require a stove, but L. indica may be 

grown in a warm conservatory. The name was given to the genus in honour of Magnus Lagerstreem of Gottenberg. 




