Refugium Botanicum. | ‘April, 1868. 
TAB. 4. 
Natural Order GERANIACE. 
Tribe GERANIER. 
Genus Monsonta, Linn. fil. 
M. Birrora (D.C. Prodr. i. p. 255). Radice annuo, caule herbaceo 
ramoso diffuso piloso, petiolis foliis oblongis grossé inciso-dentatis 
subequalibus, stipulis et bracteis longis subulatis, pedunculis gemi- 
natis, sepalis ovatis acuminatis petalis ceruleis obovatis margine 
exterlore parce inciso-crenatis subeequantibus. —- Harv. and Sond. 
fl. Cap. vol. i. p. 255. M. angustifolia, G. Meyer; A. Rich. F1. 
Abyss. vol. i. p. 115. 
A native of the Cape of Good Hope, and occurring also in 
Abyssinia. 
An annual, with copiously branched erect hairy stems, about a 
foot high. Stipules spreading, subulate, ciliated, a quarter to 
three-eighths of an inch long. Upper leaves opposite. Petioles 
one-half to three-fourths of an inch long, hairy lke the branches, 
the blade more than an inch long by about half an inch broad, 
oblong, deeply inciso-dentate, almost pinnatifid, the base sub- 
cuneate, the apex subtruncate but toothed, texture herbaceous, 
both sides green and slightly hairy. lowers in pairs on axillary 
peduncles, which are sometimes an inch long, but often shorter. 
Bracts like the stipules. Pedicels usually about an inch long, at 
first erect, reflexed after the flower falls. Calyx three-eighths of 
an inch deep, hairy. The sepals oblong, with a mucro. Petals 
obovate, slightly exceeding the sepals, purplish blue, flabellately 
veined, the outer edge subtruncate and a little inciso-crenate. 
Stamens 10, united in a tube at the base, alternately longer and 
shorter. Carpels hairy, equalling the calyx, the beak ultimately 
three or four times as long.—J. G. B. 
This annual species of Monsonia requires to be cultivated in a 
greenhouse temperature, and seems to prefer a light rich loam. 
The flowers are produced but sparingly. It was raised from seed 
obtained from South Africa by Mr. T. Cooper, and the figure was 
drawn from a plant of his cultivation.—W. W. S. 
