high, covered thickly with a stellate pubescence, giving it a roughness, 
which is very perceptible to the touch. Leaves heart-shaped at the 
base, opposite, decussate, shortly petiolate, and densely covered on 
each side with the same stellate pubescence which is found on the stem^ 
prominently from five-seven nerved. Flowers shortly pedunculate, 
large, and showy, of a delicate and pleasing purple colour, arranged 
in a paniculate raceme. Bracts large, pinkish, half the length of 
the calyx, pubescent, concave, half enclosing the alabastum, very 
deciduous. Petals four, inversely heart-shaped, notched at the end, 
of short duration. Calyx covered with a stellate pubescence, divided 
into four parts, each part regular ovate, acuminate persistent, alternate 
WTth the divisions are found subulate appendages, which are pubes¬ 
cent, similar to the other parts of the calyx. Filaments yellow, 
deciduous, ten, attached to an elevated rim situate at the base of the 
divisions of the calyx. Connective longer than the filaments, curved, 
bifid at the base, of a bright purple colour, marked with yellow at the 
base. Anthers of a purplish blue, half the length of the connective. 
Pollen white, smooth, having a transparent line in the centre. Style 
twice as long as the stamens and anthers, curved, pinkish, smooth. 
Stigma situate at the extreme apex. Ovarium five-sided, pubescent, 
five-celled, five-valved. Seeds numerous, attached to placentae, arising 
from the centre of the ovarium, and situate in the centre of each 
valve 
Popular and Geographical Notice. The genus Osbeckia is 
composed of species which are exceedingly handsome and showy, as 
may be witnessed by the one now figured. They are all shrubs, or 
suffruticose plants, inhabiting the tropical parts of Asia, Africa, and 
America. 
Introduction ; Where grown; Culture, This plant was intro¬ 
duced from the Royal Berlin Botanic Garden into the Birmingham 
Florticultural Gardens, in the year 1838, and from a plant in the lat¬ 
ter establishment our drawing was taken. It was there treated as a 
stove plant, but possibly may even be suitable for ornamenting the 
open ground during the Autumn months. It flowers in August and 
September. It should be planted in loam and peat, and may be 
increased by cuttings, and also by seeds. F. W. 
Derivation of the Names. 
The generic name is given in honor of Mr. P. Osbeck, a Swedish clergyman 
and naturalist; the specific, canescens, from its hoary appearance. 
SVNONYMES. 
Osbeckia canescens. Meyer, Floral Cabinet, vol. 3. p. 131. 
