nerves branched, slightly hairy. Petioles flattened
and furrowed on the upper side, densely tomentose;
nearly smooth and rounded underneath, a little
widened at the base, gradually tapering upwards.
Stipules ovate or lanceolate, acute, membranaceous.
Flowers axillary, numerous, fasciculate. Peduncles
slender, slightly hairy, many times shorter than the
petiole. Calyx double; outer one or involucre 3-leaved,
leaflets oblong, obtuse, many-nerved ; inner one salvershaped,
5-cleft, segments bluntly rounded, pubescent,
reticulately veined. Corolla of 5 petals, spreading,
obcordate, narrow and bearded at the base, 5-nerved,
of a bright purple, darkest near the base, nerves dark
purple. Stamens numerous, connected in a tube, and
distinct at the points, tube thickly clothed with short
hairs, points smooth, fasciculate, spreading; anthers
reniform. Carpella many, connected in a circular
capsule, rugged, each 1-seeded. Seeds smooth and
shining.
A stately and very handsome hardy annual, requiring
only to be sown in the open ground, in the common
garden soil, where it will continue to bloom till
late in Autumn, and ripen abundance of seeds; the
best time for sowing them is the beginning of March,
if the weather prove favourable; and as they are of
large growth, the plants should be at least 9 inches or
a foot a p a rt; they will otherwise crowd each other,
and will not be near so fine.
Our drawing was taken at the Nursery of Mr. Colvill,
in August last.
'A
1. The outer Calyx of 3 biacte-like Sepals. 2. The inner 5-cIeft Calyx,
showing part of the Capsule, or seed-vessel. 3. Petal, showing its bearded
base. 4. Stamens, showing tlie hairy tube and spreading points, with their kidney
shaped anthers. 6. Style and Stigmas. 6. Seed-vessel. 7. Seed.