5-lobed, the lower lobes nearly double the size of the upper
ones, and retuse, the upper ones entire. Stamens 4, small,
inserted in the upper part of the tube, 2 higher up than
the others. Style short, smooth, included in the tube.
Stigma capitate. Seeds 4, while young clothed with a
thin shelled pericarpium, which bursts and leaves them
naked when ripe.
This pretty plant is nearly related to the V. officinalis
of our own country, and was supposed to be the same
plant by the late Dr. Roxburgh, under which name it is
given in the Hortus Bengalensis; but the plants are very
different from each other, when both are seen together;
the present is much more tender than the English plant,
and vdll scarcely endure our Winters without a slight protection;
we have succeeded in keeping it by placing a
flower pot over the plant in severe frosty weather. It
thrives well in the common garden soil, and in a good
situation will attain the height of three feet and upwards.
Seeds of it ripen plentifully, which, if sown early in
Spring, will flower the following Autumn, and perhaps
ripen seeds; from the habit of the plant we may expect it
to possess the medicinal properties of V. officinalis.
Our drawing was made from a plant at the Nursery of
Mr. Colvill, where it was raised from seeds given him by
Mr. Hood, Surgeon, South Lambeth, who received them
froiii Nepaul, of which country it is a native.
1. Calyx. 2. Corolla spread open, to show the insertion o f the Stamens.
3. Germen, terminated by the Style and Stigma.