PLATE 12. 
ASYSTASIA (MACKAYA) BELLA. 
Although this charming Acanthaceous shrub has been in cultivation about 
40 years, it is only occasionally met with in collections. It is a native of 
Natal, where it was discovered in the bed of the Tongat River by Mr. J. 
Sanderson. In May, 1869, the first plants flowered in this country in the 
Palm House at Kew, and form the subject for plate 5797 in the “ Botanical 
Magazine ” for that year. 
The flowers represented in our plate are much deeper in colour than those 
shown in the “ Botanical Magazine.” They are irregularly tubular in shape, and 
of a soft lilac-purple shade, conspicuously netted with deeper-coloured veins. 
The plant is still better known in gardens under the old name of 
Mackaya — which commemorates the late Mr. J. T. Mackay of the University 
Botanic Gardens, Dublin. The authors of the “ Genera Plantarum ” however 
merged the Mackayas under the genus Asystasia, and it is under this name 
that the plant has long been known at Kew and similar establishments. 
Culture. — Asystasia bella is considered by many to be a shy bloomer, 
and perhaps this accounts in a measure lor it being so seldom seen. Mr. J. 
Fitt, of The Fry the Gardens, Welwyn, Herts, succeeds, however, in growing 
and flowering the plant to perfection every year, and it is from one of his 
plants that our coloured plate was made. He uses a compost of two parts 
peat, one part loam, and one part leaf mould with a good sprinkling of silver 
sand, and grows the plants in a warm greenhouse. During the summer 
months, that is - after the flowers are over, growth is encouraged by liberal 
watering and occasional doses of liquid manure. The tips of the longest 
shoots are pinched out so as to develop a sturdy habit. Towards autumn 
growth is finished, and from this time onwards water should be given only 
sparingly — indeed only just enough to keep the wood from shrivelling. This 
treatment, Mr. Fitt finds, is conducive to floriferousness, and at the present 
time he has several plants showing their flower spikes. 
Asystasia bella is an easy plant to propagate. When the long shoots are 
stopped in the summer months the tops may be inserted in a sandy compost 
of peat, loam, and leaf-soil, and plunged in a propagating frame in bottom 
heat. Although a convenience, there is really no need to do this, however, as 
the tops or side shoots will root freely if inserted round the rim of a pot, and 
kept shaded and sprinkled until well-rooted in an ordinary greenhouse during 
the summer months. When well-rooted, each plant should be transferred to 
a 5in. pot and grown on, taking care to syringe the foliage frequently to keep 
it clean and free from red spider, green fly, or mealy bug. 
Mr. Fitt says that he has also raised plants from seeds saved at Welwyn, 
but they do not reach the flowering stage as soon as those raised from cuttings. 
