more than half the length of the tube. Corolla 4-petalled, spread¬ 
ing' between the teeth of the calyx, and fully three times as long as 
them, pale rose-coloured, slightly blotched, ovato-lanceolate, with a 
small deflected mucro, inserted into the throat of the calyx, glabrous. 
Stamens 8, inserted into the throat of the calyx, alternately opposite 
to and between the petals; filaments subequal, erect, scarcely incli¬ 
ning to one side of the flower, glabrous, colourless, equal in length to 
the petals, but as these are spreading the stamens project far beyond 
the corolla, jointed at about two-thirds of the height, and there when 
in bud folded forwards; anthers at first orange-coloured, afterwards 
yellow, about half as long as the filaments, slightly declined, without 
crenatures in front, opening by one terminal pore, ha\ing at the base 
two small rounded auricles, which are rather larger in the longer sta¬ 
mens. Style filiform, rather longer than the stamens, and slightly 
deflected to the opposite side of the flower from them. Stigma mi¬ 
nute. Germen superior, ovate, truncated, nearly as long as the calyx, 
with eight small teeth on its apex, 4-cel led. Ovules very numerous, 
attached to central placentae, cochleate. 
Popular AND Geographical Notice. The genus Marcetia was 
established by Decandolle, and the species, believed to be all from 
Brazil. A plant believed to be one of his species, has been found by 
Schomburgk to extend to British Guiana. I believe Mr. Bentham 
has inadvertently referred to Gardner’s Specimens, No. 1*288, as iden¬ 
tical with Schomburgk’s, No. 1040. The desquamation of the cuti¬ 
cle of the stem and branches, and a remarkable enlargement of the 
fruit-bearing pedicels above the bracts in Gardners Plant, are not 
observed in Schomburgk’s. I have no doubt of Gardners, No. 1*288 
being identical with the plant now described. Several of the species of 
Marcetia grow^ at considerable elevations on the mountains; the one 
now described is found in Bahia, at an elevation of *2000 feet. It 
is a small tidy shrub, flowering freely, and during a considerable 
period. 
Introduction ; Where grown; Culture. The species descri¬ 
bed, the first in cultivation in Britain, was raised at Mr. Cunningham’s 
nursery, Comely Bank, near Edinburgh, from seeds sent from Brazil, 
by Mr. Gardner. It has been kept in the stove, and one plant placed 
lately in the greenhouse, stands there in October without injury. It has 
required no particular management and has flowered in September 
and October abundantly. 
Derivation of the Name. 
Marcetia in honour of Dr. Marcet, to whom we owe some extremely interesting 
observations on the effects of poisons on vegetables. 
Synonymes. 
Marcetia decessata. Decandolle, 1. c. 
Rhexia decessata. Mart, and Schrank.M. S, fide D C. 
Gardners specimens from Alagoas, No. 1288. 
Grah. 
