strongly 3-nerved. Nectariferous tube very short, scarcely
half so long as the calyx, flattened on each side, and
a little gibbous at the base. Petals 5, very broad, roundly
ovate; the two upper ones broadest, nearly orbicular,
of a bluish lilac, with a large dark purple patch in the
centre, becoming lighter at the outsides, between that
and the base are numerous dark purple lines that branch
all over the petals, but are nearly obscured by the large
dark patch : lower petals of a bluish lilac, somewhat
stained with purple, and lined with 5 purple lines from
the base. Filaments 10, connected at the base, 7 bearing
anthers, that are generally sterile. Style purple,
hairy about half way up, the upper mas part smooth. Stig
5, dark purple, spreading, the points reflexed.
The present handsome plant is of hybrid origin, and
belongs to the same tribe as P. atrofuscum, to which it
is nearly related; but it is much more difficult to increase
by cuttings, the plants producing scarcely any
other than flowering shoots, which soon become too
hard to strike root, so that it will most probably continue
a scarce plant for some time. We received the
plant from which our drawing was made, from Messrs.
Young, Nurserymen, at Epsom, in whose collection, we
believe, it only is at present; from its abundant flowering,
and the fine dark colour of its flowers, it may be
considered a yery desirable plant, particularly as it
forms a snug compact bush, and needs very little, or no
cutting in to keep it low and bushy, and every shoot
that it produces is loaded with flowers; a mixture of
light turfy loam and sandy peat is a proper soil for it,
and very young cuttings is the best for planting; these,
if planted in pots in the same sort of soil, in Spring, and
placed on a shelf in the Greenhouse, and well supplied
with water when dry, will be most likely to root, and
will soon make nice young plants.