Volume 8 — PLATE DXLII.

RUELLIA INFUNDIBULIFORMIS.

Funnel-flowered Ruellia.

CLASS IV. ORDER I.

TETRANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Four Chives. One Pointal.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

Calyx 5-partitus. Corolla monopetala, limbo 5-lobo, inæquali. Stamina biconjugata. Stylus filiformis. Stigma bifidum. Capsula dissepimentis dentatis, elasticis, dehiscentibus. Semina pauca.

Empalement 5-parted. Blossom one petal: border 5-lobed, unequal. Chives by pairs. Shaft thread-shaped. Summit two-cleft. Capsule with the partitions toothed, elastic, and splitting. Seeds few.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Ruellia foliis oppositis, alternis, lanceolatis, undulatis, costatis, lucidis: floribus in spicis terminalibus, confertis. Corolla infundibuliformis: laciniis limbi quinquefidis, crenatis, patentibus, rugosis, coccineis, ad basin luteis.

Ruellia with opposite alternate leaves, lance-shaped, waved, ribbed, and shining. Flowers grow in terminal spikes, crowded together. Blossom funnel-shaped: segments of the border five-cleft and notched, spreading, wrinkled, of a scarlet colour, and yellow at the base.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. The empalement. 2. A blossom spread open. 3. Seed-bud and pointal.

Few of the small plants that adorn the stove are superior in beauty to this elegant little shrub, whose successive bloom continues from June till January. It is the Justicia infundibuliformis of Linnæus, but must, according to his own system, be removed to the class Tetrandria. We have seen it in many collections in great luxuriance. It is a native of the East Indies, and was introduced by the Right Hon. C. Greville, four or five years ago. As yet, we believe, it has not perfected its seed with us, but propagates freely by cuttings.