Achimenes
(from cheimaino, to suffer from cold; alluding to the general tenderness of the species). Including Scheeria. ORD. Gesneraceae. A large genus of handsome, stove or warm greenhouse, branched, generally hairy, herbaceous perennials, with scaly, catkin-like stolons underground, and sometimes from the axils of the leaves. Corolla funnel-shaped; tube rather oblique, gibbous behind at the base; pedicels one-flowered, axillary, solitary or fasciculated, bracteated. Leaves opposite, or three in a whorl, serrated. To be successfully cultivated, they must be started and grown in stove heat till they commence flowering, when they may be removed to the conservatory or greenhouse, there to remain till after flowering. Batches of tubercles should be started in heat from February till the end of April, so as to give a succession of blossom. Shake each variety out of the old compost and insert separately in light, sandy soil; water sparingly at first, but when active they may receive more frequent supplies. When the shoots are about 2in. high, the tubercles may be transplanted to the pots, pans, or baskets in which it is intended to grow them, using as potting compost fibrous peat and leaf-soil in equal proportions, with about a sixth part of sheep's or rotten cow manure, and sufficient silver sand to make the whole porous and of a whitish appearance. Thorough drainage is indispensable, and a layer of the rougher soil, or sphagnum, should be placed over the potsherds, to prevent the loose soil stopping the drainage. Place the pans as near the glass as possible, and shade from bright sunshine. Give liberal supplies of water, with occasional doses of liquid manure; and, as the shoots lengthen, they may be pinched, to induce sturdy growth and a larger number of flowering branches. Place neat stakes to each stem, and keep well tied, arranging the stakes as symmetrically as possible, so as to ensure an even outline, but do not allow them to be seen. Light syringing with clear water, morning and evening, is beneficial. After the plants have done flowering, they should gradually have less water as the foliage and stems decay; a light airy situation is needed to mature and ripen the tubers. When the tops are quite dead, they may be removed, and the pots stored on the sides in any warm dry corner where the temperature will not fall below 50deg., keeping the plants quite dry until the time of starting again. Achimenes are liable to attacks of thrips, red-spider, and green-fly, especially if the atmosphere is kept dry; these are easily destroyed by fumigation with tobacco. This must only be done when the foliage is quite dry, otherwise the plants will suffer. Achimenes are especially beautiful when well arranged, especially if two or three varieties are mixed together, as white, red, and purple. There are several methods of increasing these:--(1) By cuttings; these need not be cut off at a joint, as they will root from any portion of the stem. Insert them thickly in well-drained pots of sandy soil-say a mixture of equal parts of peat and sand-and place in bottom heat. (2) By leaves, which should be severed from the stems, and pricked in pots of similar soil to the cuttings, placing all the petiole below the surface; stand the pots in bottom heat. (3) By scales from the corms, which should be carefully rubbed off and sown, like seeds, in pots or pans of the same compost, barely covered with sand, and placed in bottom heat, (4) By seeds, which are very small, and, consequently, require to be carefully sown. The pans must be thoroughly drained and filled nearly to the rim, levelled, and well watered with a fine rose, after which the seed should be thinly scattered, covered very lightly with sand, and placed in a shady position. Keep nicely moist, and apply water very lightly, or the tiny germs will be disturbed. Place a sheet of glass over the seed-pans. When the seedlings are large enough to handle, they may be pricked off and afterwards treated like rooted cuttings. The best time for all modes of propagating is early spring. A. atrosanguinea (dark-crimson).* fl. crimson; tube of corolla 1 1/2in. long, cylindrical, saccate at base, pilose; limb small, spreading; peduncle one-flowered. July, August. l. pilose, oblong, sub-cordate, serrated, unequal. h. 1 1/2ft. Guatemala, 1848.
A. candida (white).* fl. white; tube of corolla gibbous at base; limb oblique, the front segment largest; peduncles axillary, pilose, three-flowered. June. l. unequal, oblique at base, serrated, pilose. h. 1 1/2ft. Guatemala, 1848.
A. coccinea (scarlet).* fl. scarlet; peduncles solitary, axillary. August. l. three in a whorl, ovate, acuminated, serrated, with minute leaves in the axils. h. 1 1/2ft. Jamaica, 1778.
A. cupreata (coppery). fl. scarlet; calyx spotted inside, with a fringed mouth; petals ciliately toothed; peduncles one-flowered. April. l. elliptic, serrated, wrinkled, coloured. h. 6in. Mexico, 1845. Plant creeping, downy.
A. gloxiniaeflora (Gloxinia-flowered).* fl. whitish, large, axillary; tube of corolla 2in. long; limb broad, spreading; lobes finely serrated, dotted with purple inside. June. l. serrated from middle to top, Stem slender, flexuous. h. 1ft. Mexico, 1845.
A. grandiflora (large-flowered).* fl. violet purple, very large, solitary, axillary; limbs of corolla spreading. June. l. equal, ovate, oblique at base, sparingly serrated. h. 1 1/2ft. Mexico, 1842.
A. heterophylla (various-leaved). fl. solitary or twin; corolla scarlet; lobes ciliated. July. l. opposite, one smaller than the other, cordate ovate, acuminated, coarsely serrated. h. 1ft. Mexico. Plant rather hairy.
A. hirsuta (hairy). fl. reddish, with yellow eye; limb of corolla flat, with rounded serrulate segments; peduncles one-flowered. July. l. cordate, serrated. h. 2 1/2ft. Stem bulbiferous. Guatemala, 1842. Plant hairy. A. Kleei (Klee's).* fl. lilac; corolla dark near the mouth, with a dash of yellow in the throat; calyx downy; peduncles one-flowered. August. l. ovate, acuminate, serrated. h. 6in. Guatemala, 1848. Plant hairy.
A. longiflora (long-flowered).* fl. violet; segments of calyx lanceolate, erect; corolla with a long tube, and an ample spreading limb; pedicels one-flowered. July and August. l. three to four in a whorl, ovate or oblong, coarsely serrated. h. 1ft. Guatemala, 1841. Plant hairy.
A. multiflora (many-flowered).* fl. pale lilac; sepals linear; corolla funnel-shape; tube curved; lobes roundish, lower one fringed; peduncles axillary, three to five-flowered. August. l. opposite, or three in a whorl, ovate, deeply and doubly serrated. h. 1ft. Brazil, 1843. Plant hairy.
A. ocellata (eye-spotted).* fl. reddish yellow, with dark spots, solitary, drooping; petals nearly equally spotted. Autumn. l. on longish petioles, ovate, acuminate, serrated, wrinkled, coloured beneath. h. 1 1/2ft. 1845. Plant hairy.
A. patens (spreading). fl. violet, blue; calyx downy; tube of corolla shorter than limb, which is spreading. June. l. ovate, acuminate, hispid above, serrate. h. 1ft. Mexico, 1845.
A. pedunculata (long-stalked).* fl. scarlet, with yellow eye; corolla drooping, gibbous at base; peduncles in the axils of the upper leaves. July. l. rather unequal, obliquely cordate, ovate, serrated. h. 2ft. Stem simple, downy. Guatemala, 1840.
A. picta (painted).* fl. scarlet, with yellow eye; tube of calyx turbinate; lobes of corolla roundish, three lower ones smallest; peduncles solitary or two-flowered, axillary one-flowered July. l. opposite, or three in a whorl, cordate-ovate, coarsely serrated, velvety, and elegantly painted. h. 1 1/2ft. Mexico, 1843.
A. rosea (rosy). fl. rose, pilose; limb of corolla equal to tube; peduncles filiform, many-flowered, June. l. sometimes three in a whorl, pilose. h. 1 1/2ft. Guatemala, 1848.
The foregoing are the most important species known. Hybrid varieties are innumerable, and even surpass the species in beauty, the best of which are enumerated below in their respective colours.
Blue and Purple Flowered. ADVANCE,* flowers reddish purple, lighter at the eye, dwarf, and free habit; ARGUS,* rich plum, with deep orange eye, large and free; DR. BUENZOD,* flowers rich crimson purple, spotted with orange in the centre, very free; EXCELSIOR, rich violet-purple, very large and free, with compact habit; GEM,* flowers small, of good form, rich carmine-purple; GIBSONI,* flowers very large, clear mauve, with the tube white outside; GRANDIS, rich violet purple, with large orange eye, carmine shaded, a charming variety; LADY SCARSDALE,* flowers of fair size, very free, rich plum purple, shaded carmine; LONGIFLORA MAJOR,* a stronger grower than the type, freely producing large rich blue flowers, one of the finest varieties grown; MADAME GEORGE, deep purple shaded crimson; MAUVE QUEEN,* flowers very large, of a distinct mauve, with a brownish eye-shade, very profuse, with a grand habit, one of the best; PURPUREA ELEGANS,* deep claret purple, orange throat with dark spots, a very attractive variety; ROLLISONII,* flowers large, deep lavender-blue, yellow throat, spotted with deep crimson, very effective; VIVICANS,* dark carmine-purple, with crimson eye, a few blue rays streaking from the eye, habit good, and very free.
Crimson and Scarlet Flowered. AURORA,* rich rosy-scarlet, with yellow throat, very large, fully 2in. across; CARL WOOLFORTH,* deep crimson, shaded lighter at the eye, very free; DAZZLE, flowers small, brilliant scarlet, pale yellow eye, very pretty and free; DIADEM*, crimson lake, shaded carmine, with deep yellow eye; ECLIPSE,* rich orange-scarlet, spotted with carmine, extremely floriferous, with a good habit; FIREFLY,* deep carmine red, golden eye, spotted with crimson, one of the best; HARRY WILLIAMS*, bright cerise red, yellow, maroon spotted, the edge prettily fringed, a very charming variety; LOVELINESS, rich magenta crimson, golden eye, spotted with maroon; METEOR, flowers rather large, bright crimson-scarlet, yellow eye, spotted carmine, very dwarf and free; SCARLET PERFECTION,* rich carmine-scarlet, deep orange eye, very beautiful; SIR TREHERN THOMAS,* deep crimson-lake, very profuse, with a good habit; STELLA, deep magenta, with orange eye, the margins fringed, very large and free, 2in. or more across; WILLIAMSII,* flowers large, stout, brilliant scarlet, orange throat, habit dwarf and free-branching, one of the finest varieties grown.
Orange-Flowered. GEORGIANA DISCOLOR, flowers large, bright orange, with a distinct yellow centre; HENDERSON,* rich orange-salmon, with yellow eye; MAGNET,* deep orange, spotted with crimson, with a distinct carmine zone, a very free-flowering and beautiful variety; PARSONSI* is a decided improvement upon the last.
Rose-Flowered. ADMIRATION, deep rose, white throat, spotted with carmine; CARMINIATA SPLENDENS,* bright rose yellow, spotted in the centre, a charming variety; LEOPARD, bright magenta rose, freely spotted at the throat; LONGIFLORA ROSA,* rich lilac rose, deeper in centre, of medium size, very free and dwarf; MASTERPIECE,* deep rose, violet shaded, with a distinct white throat; PINK PERFECTION,* rich rose, the eye rich carmine and violet rayed, one of the best; ROSEA MAGNIFICA,* bright rose, with a yellow eye, very finely spotted, a very lovely variety; ROSE QUEEN,* flowers very large, rich rosy-lake, shaded deep purple, with a well defined orange throat; UNIQUE,* rosy-pink, deep yellow eye, spotted crimson, a very charming variety. White-Flowered. AMBROSE VERSCHAFFELT,* flowers of good size, pure white, with a dark rayed centre; LONGIFLORA ALBA,* similar in form and habit to Longiflora, but with large white flowers, slightly marked in the centre; MADAME A. VERSCHAFFELT,* flowers large, pure white ground, heavily veined with purple, a very attractive variety; MARGARETTA,* flowers of medium size, pure white, and destitute of any markings whatever.