Alonsoa
(in honour of Z. Alonso, formerly Spanish secretary for Santa Fe de Bogota). ORD. Scrophularineae. A genus of very pretty little half-hardy shrubs, herbaceous perennials, or annuals, with axillary, sub-racemose flowers, which are resupinate, with a sub-rotate five-cleft limb. Leaves opposite, or ternately whorled. They will grow freely in light rich soil; and are readily increased by cuttings in August or March, which should be placed in sandy soil in gentle heat, or by seeds sown in March. The herbaceous species may be treated as outdoor summer annuals, and should be raised in a little heat, and planted out early in May.
A. albiflora (white-flowered).* fl. pure white, with yellow eye, in long terminal spikes. h. 1 1/2ft. to 2ft. Mexico, 1877. This is recommended for pot culture, as in the conservatory it will provide a succession of flowers throughout the autumn and winter.
A. caulialata (wing-stemmed). fl. scarlet, racemose. June. l. ovate, acute, serrated. Stems and branches quadrangular, winged. h. 1ft. Peru, 1823. Half-hardy, herbaceous.
A. incisifolia (cut-leaved).* fl. scarlet; peduncles long, alternate, disposed in terminal racemes. May to October. l. opposite, ovate, acute, deeply toothed, or serrate. h. 1ft. to 2ft. Chili, 1795. Glabrous greenhouse shrub. SYN. Hemimeris urticifolia.
A. linearis (linear-leaved). fl. scarlet, with a dark bottom, like most of the species. May to October. l. opposite, or three in a whorl, linear, entire or remotely denticulated; young leaves fascicled in the axils of the old ones. h. 1ft. to 2ft. Peru, 1790. Greenhouse shrub. SYN. Hemimeris coccinea. A. linifolia (Flax-leaved).* fl. scarlet. h. 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. New Holland. This is an elegant little annual, forming symmetrical, graceful, and very free flowering plants, either for pot or outdoor culture. A. Matthewsii (Matthews'). fl. scarlet, in loose, terminal racemes. July. l. lanceolate, toothed, about 1in. long. Stem slender, quadrangular. h. 1ft. Peru, 1871. Greenhouse shrub.
A. myrtifolia (Myrtle-leaved). fl. scarlet, very large. New and pretty species.
A. Warscewiczii (Warscewicz's).* fl. rosy scarlet. h. 1 1/2ft. Chili, 1858. This is probably a herbaceous variety of A. incisifolia, and one of the best annuals.