Amaraboya
(the native name). ORD. Melastomaceae. A small genus (three species) of erect, glabrous, stove or greenhouse, evergreen shrubs, natives of New Grenada. Flowers showy, cymose; petals usually six, cordate; stamens twelve to fifteen. Leaves large, opposite, sessile, with three very prominent nerves, green above, reddish-carmine beneath. Branches as thick as the thumb, bluntly four-angled. The species will probably thrive under the same treatment as that recommended for Pleroma (which see, on p. 162, Vol. III.).
A. amabilis (lovely). fl. white, margined with carmine, large; petals broad; style red, elongated; umbels terminal. l. 10in. to 12in. long, 8in. broad, opposite, elliptic, canescent beneath, the three nerves brownish or reddish. Stems terete, purplish. 1887. (I.H. ser. v. 9.)
A. princeps (princely). fl. of a uniform bright carmine, very showy; petals usually six, broadly cordate; stamens white; cymes terminal, few-flowered; peduncles stout. l. elliptic, sessile, apiculate, 7in. to 10in. long, 3in. to 5in. broad, green above, reddish-brown beneath. 1887. (I.H. ser. v. 4.)
A. splendida (splendid). fl. 6 1/2in. across, very beautiful; petals sub-triangular, 3in. long, nearly 2 1/2in. broad, at first reddish-pink, becoming white in the lower part; stamens yellowish; style red, elongated. l. very large, ovate-oblong, green above, coppery-pink with three red nerves beneath. 1886. A gorgeous plant. (I. H. ser. v. 34.)