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P L A T E CCCCLIL
ACHANIA MOLLIS.
Soft-haired-leaved Achania,
CLASS XVL ORDER VL
MONADELPHIA POLYANDRIA. Threads united. Many Chives.
GENERIC CHARACTER.
CALYX duplex. Interior monophylluSj semistriatus,
sub-cylindraceus, quinquefidus,
persistens. Exterior octophyllus, basi levitar
coalitus.
COROLLA sub-clavata, convoluta. Pétala quinqué,
basi uno latere alternatim auriculata,
lobis columnam staminum convolveutibus.
STAMINA. Fìlamenta plurima, ad basin in tubum
corolla longiorem torta, in partem superiorem
tubi coalita, cujus apex liberatus est.
PisTiLLUM. Germen sub-globosum. Stylus
filiformis. Stigma decemfidum.
P E K I C A R P I U M . Bacca sub-globosa, quinquelocularis.
SEMIN A solitaria.
E M P A L E M E N T double. The inner one-leafed,
half-striped, nearly cylindrical, five-cleft,
and remaining. The outer eight-leaved, and
slightly attached at the base.
BLOSSOM nearly club-shaped, and folded together.
Petals five, alternately eared on one side of
the base, the lobes of which are rolled
round the columnar shaft of the stamens.
CHIVES. Threads numerous, united at the base
into i tube longer than the blossom, tvi^isted,
and united near the upper part of the tube,
the point of which is liberated.
PoiNTAL. Seed-bud nearly round. Shaft threadshaped.
Summit ten-cleft.
SEED-VESSEL. A berry nearly round, with five
cells.
SEEDS solitary.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
A C H A N I A foliis tomentosis, cordatis, trilobatis,
dentatis. Calyx exterior revolutus, pubescens.
Flores solitarii, axillares. Corolla
sub-elavata. Pétala convoluta, sub-inclusa,
Isete coccínea, nervosa, tomentosa. Caulis
fruticosus, villosus, sub-tripedalis.
A C H A N I A with downy leaves,heart-shaped, threelobed,
and tootlied. The outer cup is revolute,
and hairy. Flowers grow solitary
from the axillae of the leaves. Blossom
nearly club-shaped. The petals are folded
together and nearly closed, of a bright
scarlet colour, nerved, and downy. Stem
shrubby, hairy, and near three feet high.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The empalement.
2. A blossom spread open.
3. A petal detached, shown from the outside.
4. The chives spread open.
5. Seed-bud and pointal, summit magnified.
T H I S handsome hot-house plant is certainly an old one, having been a sojourner with us near thirty
years, but has not as yet been figured in any publication that we know of:—a neglect most probably
resulting from the singularity of its unclosing flowers ; so uncommon a character naturally conveying an
idea that the plant was in an imperfect state. Under this prejudice it has lost the charm of novelty,
.-»nd many a less attractive object has been preferred before it. This genus approaches so close to the
genera of Hibiscus, Althea, Malva, &c. that it must certainly be considered as a very near relation to
that family. Its foliage is frequently deciduous on the lower part of the stem; a defect to which stove
plants in general are but too subject. It is a native of South America and the West India Islands,
was foraid by Dr. Houston in Jamaica in 1731, and introduced by B. Bewick, esq. in 178O. It
flowers from July till the end of the year.
i S.
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