crenulate, imbricate only at the base, and distinct
from about the middle, of a bluish rose colour, inclining
to purple, and a bright yellow spot at the base.
Stamens numerous, surrounding the style, from 100 to
150: filaments smooth, pale yellow: pollen bright
orange-coloured. Germen sericeous. Style smooth,
about the length of the stamens. Stigma capitate,
5-lobed, pustulose.
Our drawing of this rare and very distinct species
was taken from a fine plant at the Nursery of Messrs.
Whitley, Brames, and Milne, in July last, in whose
collection we have also met with some other very rare
species; we think the present the most curious of any
that we have yet seen; the plant has a tree-like appearance,
with Short stiff branches; and although its
leaves are so small, the flowers are nearly as large as
any of the genus, and are of a lively colour; those are
produced from the beginning of June until the end of
July: it is a native of uncultivated hills in Algiers,
and therefore requires the protection of a frame or
greenhouse in Winter; or if planted against a wall,
and well covered with mats in severe frost, it will succeed
very well; if grown in pots, it will thrive well in
any rich light soil, or a mixture of sandy loam and
peat will suit it very well; it does not strike freely
from cuttings, the shoots being so short and hard that
good ones are with difficulty procured ; those should
be taken off before too ripe, and planted under a handglass.
Seeds are sometimes ripened, which is the best
method of increasing it.