transparent carmine, while the leaf itself, strongly bilobed, is 
of a purplish-crimson underneath, dark maroon on its upper 
side, with its many broad ribs of a very prominent carmine. 
There is not a green spot on the whole plant, and whether 
placed in the shade or in the most brilliant sunshine, it produces 
a most admirable contrast with plants of a lighter colour. It 
has neither the gloomy appearance of the Perilla nor the woolly 
leaf of Coleus, and is by no means so susceptible of cold and 
dampness combined as this latter plant. Another advantage 
it has is, that it does not flower either out-of-doors nor in a 
warm greenhouse, where I have introduced several strong plants 
on purpose to induce it to flower, but without success. The 
flowers which I have seen on some dried native specimens were 
very small and insignificant, of a greyish-white, and very nume¬ 
rously produced on a loose panicle of about eight inches long. 
64 The Iresine was introduced by me from the River Plate, 
and Sir W. Hooker also possesses a native specimen from Peru, 
gathered by Matthews; but incorrectly, he says, placed in his 
herbarium as Iresine diffusa; and I am at a loss to find how 
I deserve the compliment paid me by Sir William by naming 
the plant after me, unless he meant it as an acknowledgment 
for the many contributions in plants which I sent to Kew Gar¬ 
dens during my eight years’ stay in Brazil. 
44 The plant coming both from Peru and the River Plate will 
no doubt stand our climate better than the Coleus, and I may add, 
that in my nursery-ground, in close vicinity to and almost on 
a level with the Thames, open to all winds and weathers, with¬ 
out trees or protecting walls, it stood uninjured the slight frost 
which occurred in August last, while the leaves of Coleus Ver- 
schaffeltii were entirely spoiled, and those of C. nigricans dropped 
off. I am persuaded that the Iresine will maintain a first place 
in every collection where plants are grown for decorative pur¬ 
poses, and I am informed that it will be largely planted next 
season in some of the most celebrated metropolitan gardens.” 
