OF THE GENUS GLOXINIA. 
135 
FLORICULTURE. 
ARTICLE VI.—OF THE GENUS GLOXINIA. 
BY THE AUTHOR OF THE DOMESTIC GARDENERS’ MANUAL. 
This most elegant family stands pre-eminent in the Natural Order— 
Gesneria. A few years only have passed by, since this order com¬ 
prised two genera only—namely— Gesnera and Gloxinia', now— 
subsequently to 1S20—it has received four additional families, some 
of which have been separated from Gesnera , or Gesneria. 
The six Genera now ranking in the order, are 
1. Gesnera —the type; named after the Swiss botanist, Gesner : 
almost the whole of the numerous species have been introduced since 
the year 1815. 
2. Gloxinia. Of this fine genus—one only— maculdta, or the 
spotted stalked—was known in the eighteenth century—all the 
others are new. The name is derived from the French botanist, 
Gloxin. 
3. Sinningia, so called from a gardener of the name of Sinning : 
it is a new genus—the first species of which was introduced in 1820. 
4. Codonophera—from —a bell—or trumpet-mouth, remo¬ 
ved by Dr. Lindley from Gesnera. 
5. Pentaraphia—literally means five needles—one species for¬ 
merly— Gesneria ventricosa —a Jamaica plant, 1823. 
6. Besleria—from Besler , a German Apothecary. This Genus is 
old—it formerly belonged to Schrophularince. 
These Species are almost all native^ of hot, tropical climates, and, 
therefore, rank as stove plants. They have many characters in com¬ 
mon, and may perhaps be all successfully grown in decayed wood, 
or the vegetable earth of leaves and sticks, blended with a little sharp 
sand. I shall, however, confine myself to the culture of a few of the 
species of Gloxinia, as these are not only most readily procured, but 
are objects of peculiar and striking interest: 
Gloxinia is found in the fourteenth class—second order of the 
Linnaean System of Botany; Didynamia Angiospermia. The Sta¬ 
mens are four, unequal in size, that is, two are shorter than the 
other. The Calyx is five-leaved, fleshy, the terminations pointed. 
Corolla hell-shaped, or closely resembles that of the fox-glove, its 
limb, or border, unequal, oblique. Filaments of the stamens inserted 
in the receptacle. 
Gloxinia Speciosa, specious or showy G. has been cultivated 
since 1815, and is a native of South America. There are two vari- 
