Monadelphia Pentandria.

Generic Character.

Pentagyna. Caps. 5-locularis. Petala basi semitubulata, obliqua.

Specific Character and Synonyms.

HERMANNIA lavendulifolia foliis lanceolatis obtusis integerrimis. Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14. Murr. p. 611. Ait. Kew. v. 2. p. 413.

HERMANNIA frutescens folio LavendulÆ latiore et obtuso flore parvo aureo Boerh. Dill. Hort. Elth. t. 147.

The Hermannia here figured is a plant of humble growth, forming a small bushy shrub, a foot or a foot and a half in height, and producing numerous flowers thinly scattered over the branches, the greatest part of the summer; it is this disposition which it has of flowering so freely, that renders it a desirable plant for the greenhouse, in which it is commonly kept, and of which it is an old inhabitant.

Dillenius has figured it in his admirable work the Hortus Elthamensis, published in 1732; hence we learn that it was cultivated in Mr. Sherard's celebrated garden at Eltham prior to that date.

It is a native of the Cape, and is readily increased by cuttings.