



OF ORNAMENTAL EXOTIC PLANTS. 199 
least will flower magnificently during the summer months in the open air, and that it will live in a greenhouse all 
the year, only requiring a little extra heat when it is about to form its flower-buds in spring. The genus is named 
after Olof Toreen, a Swedish clergyman, a friend of Linnaeus, who discovered 7’. asiatica in China and first brought 
it to Europe. 

1.—TORENIA ASIATICA Lin. THE ASIATIC TORENIA. 
Synonymes.—T. cordifolia Benth. ; T. diffusa D. Don; T. pedun- Eneravines.—Bot. Mag., t. 4249 ; and our jig. 1, in Pl. 40. 
cularis Wall.; T. vagans Roxb.; T. alba Hamilton; T. hirsuta Speciric Cuaracter.—Leaves ovate. Peduncles axillary, sub- 
Willd. ; Gratiola alata Car.; Bonnaya alata Spreng.; Henckelia | fasciculate. Calyx oblong and attenuated at the base. Corolla twice 
alata Link. the length of the calyx. 
Description, &c.—It is hardly possible for any description to do justice to the beauty of the flowers of this 
plant, as nothing can exceed the richness of the dark purple blotches, The stems are quadrangular, and the foliage 
is somewhat coarse, but the beauty of the flowers makes the plant highly deserving of cultivation. It was at first 
supposed that it would not live out of a hothouse, but it is now found to flower best in the open air or in a green- 
house, as both the leaves and flowers assume a much paler hue when grown ina stove. The species is only an 
annual, or at least it is generally considered so, but it may be propagated by cuttings, which root readily, and in 
this manner may be preserved throughout the winter. When treated as an annual, the seed should be raised on a 
hotbed, and the young plants either planted out or placed in a greenhouse about May. 
POO 
OTHER SPECIES OF TORENIA. 
T. SCABRA &. Br. 
This species is a native of New Holland, whence it was introduced in 1830. It has very handsome flowers, 
though they are inferior in beauty to those of 7. asiatica. 
T. CONCOLOR Jindi. 
This species is closely allied to T. asiatica, but it differs in the flowers being smaller and in their being destitute 
of the blotches of rich dark purple which make the flowers of T’. asiatica so very ornamental. It is a native of 
China, whence it was introduced by Mr. Fortune in 1844. All the species of Torenia require a moist atmosphere, 
and abundance of water during the summer months. 
GENUS IV. 
MIMULUS Lin. THE MONKEY-FLOWER. 
Lin. Syst. DIDYNAMIA ANGIOSPERMIA. 
Generic Caaracter.—Calyx five-toothed. Corolla personate. Capsule two-valved, with flattish margins. (G. Don.) 

Description, &c.—The species belonging to this genus are all hardy or half hardy herbaceous plants, growing 
with coarse foliage, but very ornamental flowers. Almost all the species hybridise freely, and as some of them are 
yellow and some red, many very beautiful flowers are produced by the mingling of these colours. Some of the 
most ornamental of these have been raised in the Botanic Garden at Edinburgh. 




