2-cellecl : ce//i parallel, opening lengthways, the base free, and
slightly spreading, and furnished with a very short incurved
spur. Connective narrow, prominent. Ovarium oblong,
cylindrical, with two ovules in each cell. Style slender, filiform,
hairy. Stigma small, undivided. Capsule siliquiform,
about half an inch long, 2-celled : cells crustaceous. Dissepiment
parallel, the edge towards the axis, separating longitudinally
in the middle, and so much thickened at the end
as to fill nearly the whole cell. Seeds 2 in each cell, rounded,
ovate, mucronulate, covered with a silvery pellicle ; the
edges blunt and even. Retinacula thick, horny, acute, incurved,
shorter than the seed.
This is by far the prettiest of the extratropical Acan-
thaceæ, and is really an interesting addition to our hardy
border flowers. It is a dwarf herbaceous perennial, requiring
to be planted in a mixture of loam and peat, and is
readily increased by parting the roots. It is a native of
Carolina, and has been but recently introduced by Mr.
Dennis, from whose collection our drawing was taken in
August last. The genus is essentially distinguished by
having an ovarium with two-seeded cells, and the anthers
spurred at the base.
We think it probable, that Ruellia ciliosa, and hybrida,
and some other North American species, will be found to
belong to this genus ; but our materials do not enable us to
settle that point at present.
That this is the Ruellia biflora of Linnæus, we cannot
take upon ourselves to say, as there is no authentic specimen
in his Herbarium, the one under that name being from
Jamaica, and a totally different plant.
The name alludes to the showy appearance of the plant,
and is compounded of koXoç, beautiful, and (^aivw, to appear.
D . Don Mss.
1. Calyx. 2. Corolla laid open. 3. Pistil,
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