swollen globose rhizoma, about two inches in diameter. Leaves 
normally opposite, but generally collected into distant spreading 
whorls, of from three to six each; petioles short, deeply channelled, 
and, as well as the midrib and principal veins, of a red tint; limbs 
ovate, tending to ob-cordate, broadly and bluntly serrate. Inflores¬ 
cence rising from a terminal whorl of leaves, with flowers varying 
from two to more than twenty in number, in cymes, umbellately 
arranged, the peduncles often indistinctly developed, the whole 
covered with pubescence; occasionally a still more numerous set of 
flowers are similarly developed among the lower whorl of leaves, and 
arranged in a pseudo-verticillate manner. Pedicels two or three 
inches long, red, erect; the flowers inclined or nodding. Calyx half¬ 
superior, with a very short tube, and five somewhat irregular lanceolate 
teeth. Corolla about two inches long, cylindrically funnel-shaped, 
with five vesicular swellings ati the base, somewhat irregularly five- 
lobed, slightly spreading, and somewhat bilabiate, the two lobes of 
the upper lip rather the smallest. A rounded tubercle is seated 
on the outside, between each sinus of the mouth. Stamens four, 
didynamous, included. Anthers cohering, pollen white. Ovary 
ovate, tapering to a subulate style, as long as the corolla. Stigma a 
little swollen, emarginately truncate. Two large yellow glands are 
seated at the base, at the upper side of the ovarium. J.S. Henslow. 
Popular and Geographical Notice. All the species of this 
genus are from tropical America; and, like their allies, the Gloxine£e, 
possess very succulent and tuberous rhizomata. They are mostly 
highly ornamental stove plants, of easy culture. 
Introduction; Where grown; Culture. The present plant 
was grown in the Botanic Garden at Cambridge. It has not assumed 
the most ornamental form which this species sometimes presents, 
when numerous flowers arise in the lower whorl of leaves, as well as 
those which crown the summit —in a manner analogous to what we 
commonly see in the Chinese Primrose. It requires a rich light soil. 
Derivation of the Name. 
Gesnera, altered from Gesneria, given by Plumier in honor of Conrad Gesner. 
Dotjglasii, from the late botanical traveller, Douglas. Verticillata 
whorled. 
Synonyme. 
Gesneria verticillata. Bot. Mag. No. 2776 
Gesneria Doeglasii, var. verticillata. Bot, Mag. No. 3612. Bot. Reg- 
No. 1110. 
