Plate 287. 
MARANTA ILLUSTRIS. 
In accordance with the promise made in our last number, 
we present now an illustration of the second of the two re¬ 
markable Marantas introduced recently by Mr. Linden from 
South America; and in Maranta illustris will be found, we 
think, a formidable rival to the many remarkable plants be¬ 
longing to this family. 
In a communication received from M. Linden, he informs 
us that Maranta illustris was discovered at the same time as 
Maranta roseo-picta* by M. Wallis, in that part of the regions 
of the High Amazons belonging to the Republic of Ecuador. 
We mention this, because the term employed by us last month 
is liable to misapprehension, equatorial being applicable to the 
whole region. It was sent home at the same time, and will be 
exhibited by him at the International Exhibition in May. 
At the same time that the leaves were forwarded to our 
artist, M. Linden was good enough to send also a tracing 
made by M. Wallis on the spot, giving the natural size of the 
leaves; but the size of our Plate has compelled us to reduce 
the drawing, and the leaves now figured are one-third less than 
the natural size; the colour of the leaves is a brilliant bright 
pea-green, marked with transverse bands of a deeper shade 
of green, sometimes reaching down to the midrib. This latter 
is of a pale rosy tint, while two irregular zigzag bands of yel¬ 
lowish white commence at the base of the leaf, continuing one 
* In reference to our last Plate, M. Linden says, u Jlf. roseo-pictci (as he 
prefers it to rose a picta) is beautifully executed; but the bands extend 
quite to the extremity of the leaf; doubtless,” he adds, “in the leaves sent 
to Mr. Andrews they were not as well marked as in some others.” 
