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equal in length, all lanceolate, except the back one, which
is broader, and concave inwards. Corolla tubular, 2-lipped;
tube very narrow at the base, but very much inflated towards
the mouth, thickly clothed all over with short hairs: upper
Up large, with two broad rounded lobes, a little arched over;
lower Up 3-lobed; the two side lobes short and straight,
rounded : lower one 2-lobed, bearded near the base on each
side with tufts of long hairs, and spotted all over with numerous
dark spots, which extend into the throat, the lobes
broadly wedge-shaped and reflexed. Stamens 4, inserted in
the tube, a little within the mouth, and decurrent down it,
two a little longer than the others : Jilaments pubescent their
whole length, slightly forked at the point, the lower point
very slender, and attached to the back of the anther. Style
smooth and slender. Stigma 2-cleft, pointed, the lower segment
rather longest.
This beautiful plant is a native of the Altay mountains,
and is frequently sold at the Nurseries by the name of D.
grandijlorum, which is a very different plant, and but slightly
related to the present, this being a tufted perennial, producing
numerous short shoots at the base, and its bractes are
very broad, and deeply notched. D. grandijloruin is an
annual, with lanceolate, acute, entire bractes, and smaller
flowers.
Our drawing of the present species was taken from a plant
at the Nursery of Messrs M^hitley, Brames, and Milne, where
we have observed it flourish much better, than in any other
collection, chiefly owing, we believe, to the dry light nature
of the soil; it is well deserving a place in every collection of
hardy herbaceous plants, as its flowers are so strikingly
beautiful, and it continues to produce a succession of flowers
for some time ; its time of flowering is from the end of May
to Ju ly ; we have also frequently seen it produce flowers again
in Autumn : it is readily increased by dividing at the root.
The generic name is derived from SpuKov, a dragon, and
KS(t>aXv, a head, from the fancied resemblance of the flower
to the head of a Dragon.
1. Calyx. 2. Corolla spread open, showing the in¥ertion of the four Stamens.
3. Filament distinct, to show its pubescence, and slightly cloven point, the lower segment
o f w hich .iWs attached tWo tVhIJVe., anther. 4. TJ .1h1Ce lfUoUurl n1I<aked Seeds, divested of the Calyx,
terminated by a long slender Style, and cleft Stigma.
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