permost widely spatulate, cream-coloured, with a dark
reddish purple mark from the base to the middle
lower petals much shorter, ligulate, of a pale cream
colour. Filaments 10, united at the base, 7 bearing
anthers. Germen hairy. Style red, slightly hairy on
the lower part and smooth on the upper. Stigmas 5,
red, reflexed.
Our drawing of this handsome species was taken
from a strong healthy plant communicated to us by
R. H. Jenkinson, Esq. It seems to have caused some
perplexity among botanists; probably from the state
of the samples before them. The number of flowers
in the umbel depends entirely on the sti’ength of the
plant, likewise the size and divisions of the leaves. In
a very strong specimen we have seen as many as eight
flowers in the umbel, but much oftener only four or
five. Jacquin’s figure appears to have been made from
a very weak plant, and ours from one altogether as
strong. It is rather more tender than most other
species, and requires to be kept in the warmest part
of the greenhouse in winter, when care must be taken
not to overwater it, as it is very liable to ro t; its leaves
are also of a succulent nature, so that, they are very
apt to decay, if wetted. The best soil for it is a mixture
of turfy loam, peat, and sand, the same as recommended
for P. fulgidum and its relatives. Cuttings
strike root readily, planted in pots in the same
kind of soil, and placed on a shelf in the greenhouse.