Refugiuin Botanicum. | [ April, 1868. 
TAB. 11. 
Natural Order PoLyGoNAcEm. 
Genus Ponycaonum, Linn. 
Sect. Cepuaropiton, Meisn. Flores capitati. Calyx semicorollinus, 4—5 
partitus. Stamina 8 vel rarius 6. Glandule vel squamee perigyne 
nulle. Styli 3 vel raro Q, filiformi, semiconnati, stigmatibus capi- 
tatis. Achanium calyce parum aucto sicco vel rarius subcarnoso 
totuin Inclusum, trigonum. 
P. capiratum (Hamilt. in Don. Prodr. Fl. Nep. p.73).  Caule radi- 
cante ramoso cum ochreis foliisque pube purpurascente hispidulo, 
foliis ovatis vel ellipticis subacutis, petiolo brevissimo utrinque 
foliaceo-auriculato, capitulis geminatis vel solitariis majusculis 
densifloris, bracteis paleaceis ovatis acutis nudis, floribus quinque- 
fidis octandris hemitrigynis, achenio obtuse trigono obsolete granu- 
Jato.— Meisn. Monogr. p. 82; D.C. Prodr. xiv. p. 129; Bab. in 
Linn. Trans. vol. xviii. p. 107. P. repens, Wall. Cat. 1699 ; Meisn. 
in Wall. Pl. As. Rar. ii. p. 60. 
Not uncommon in the North of India. 
A perennial, with firm slender diffusely spreading stems, mo- 
derately densely clothed with short deflexed gray hairs. Ochree 
herbaceous, short, the lower part clasping the stem firmly, the 
upper part reflexed. Nodes about half an inch apart. Petioles 
very short, with a foliaceous wing. Leaves ovate or elliptical, the 
largest two inches long by about an inch broad, the point sub- 
‘acute, the base rounded with a haft, texture herbaceous, not at 
all rigid, upper surface full green, lower rather paler, both 
sides moderately thickly clothed with short spreading gray 
hairs like those of the stem, an oblique dark blotch running 
down from the middle of the leaf to the base on both sides of the 
midrib. Flowers in dense rounded heads, about half an inch 
broad, on peduncles a quarter to an inch long, the separate 
flowers sessile, with a small ovate membranous bracteole clasped 
round them, the perianth pink, the tube rather longer than the 
five blunt ovate divisions. Stamens five to eight, inserted in the 
throat of the tube. Style tripartite about half-way down. Nut 
obtusely trigonous, faintly granulated.—J. G. B. 
The seeds of this plant I obtained, some years since, from 
Nepal, through the late Dr. Royle. It is easy of cultivation and 
nearly hardy, and well suited, from its trailing habit, for hanging- 
baskets, where its pretty pink flowers and dark spotted leaves 
produce an elegant effect. It does well in a cool conservatory.— 
W.W.S. 
