Brunfelsia
(named after Otto Brunfels, of Mentz, first a Carthusian monk, and afterwards a physician; he published the first good figures of plants in 1530). SYN. Franciscea. ORD. Scrophularineae. Elegant free-flowering stove evergreens. Flowers sweet-scented; corolla large, funnel or salver-shaped, with a long tube, and a flat, five-lobed, obtuse, nearly equal limb. A light rich soil, or a compost of loam, leaf soil, and peat, is necessary to grow these plants successfully. Propagated by cuttings, planted in sand, and placed under bell glasses, in a moderate heat. When rooted, they should be placed in small pots, in a compost somewhat more sandy than that already mentioned. While growing, they require to be kept in a moist stove temperature, and should be hardened by placing them in a drier, and somewhat cooler, temperature after each growth is completed; the pots should be changed as often as the roots become thick around the ball of earth. The larger plants flower freely, and should be slightly pruned in annually, before commencing their new growth, thus securing neat and compact specimens. Repotting should be effected directly they have done flowering. The plants should then be placed in a temperature ranging from 60deg. to 68deg., and both the roots and foliage liberally supplied with water. When flowers appear--about October or November--the syringing must be less frequently performed. At this period, if it be desirable to prolong the flowering season, the plants should be removed to a temperature of about 48deg. A few administrations of weak liquid manure during the growing season are of great value.
B. acuminata (taper-pointed-leaved).* fl. bluish-violet, few, subcymose, terminal. April. l. oblong, acuminated, attenuated a little at the base, glabrous; bracts lanceolate, acuminated, glabrous. h. 1ft. to 2ft. Rio Janeiro, 1840. (B. M. 4189.) B. americana (American).* fl. first yellow, then white, very sweet-scented; axillary flowers solitary, terminal ones numerous. June. l. obovate, elliptic, acuminated, longer than the petioles. h. 4ft. to 6ft. West Indies, 1735. There are narrow and broad-leaved varieties of this species. (B. M. 393.) B. calycina (cup-shaped).* fl. purple, disposed in large trusses, which are produced in succession throughout the whole year. l. large, lanceolate, shining light green. h. 2ft. Brazil, 1850. One of the largest-flowered species grown. (B. M. 4583.) B. confertiflora (dense-flowered). fl. soft blue, cymosely crowded, terminal. January to June. l. nearly sessile, oblong-acute, attenuated at the base, rather pilose, ciliated, yellowish-green above; bracteoles oblong, attenuated at the base, and are, as well as the calyces, clothed with rusty hairs. h. 1ft. to 2ft. Brazil.
B. eximia (choice).* fl. produced from the points of the shoots, upwards of 2in. in diameter, deep purple, January to July. l. oblong-lanceolate, dark green, but not glossy. h. 2 1/2ft. Brazil, 1847. (B. M. 4790.) B. grandiflora (large-flowered). fl. greenish; limb of corolla 2in. in diameter, corymbose, terminal. June. l. elliptic-oblong, acuminated. Branches twiggy. h. 3ft. Peru.
B. hydrangeaeformis (Hydrangea-like).* fl. beautiful bluish-violet; cymes terminal, hemispherical, large. April. l. oblong, acute, cuneiform at base, quite glabrous, 1ft. long; bracts lanceolate, aggregate. h. 1ft. to 3ft. Brazil, 1840. This is one of the most elegant species of the genus. (B. M. 4209.) B. latifolia (broad-leaved). fl. at first lavender-colour, with a distinct white eye, eventually becoming almost white; deliciously fragrant, sub-cymose, terminal. Winter to early spring. l. broad-elliptic, acutish, greyish-white, 6in. to 7in. long, and 2in. to 2 3/4in. broad. h. 2ft. to 3ft. Brazil, 1840. (B. M. 3907.) B. Lindeniana (Linden's).* fl. rich purple, with a light eye. l. ovate-acuminate, dark green. Brazil, 1865. (B. H. 1865, 226.) B. uniflora (one-flowered). fl. solitary; corolla with a whitish tube, and a bluish-violet or purple limb. Winter. l. elliptic, acute; branches greenish, hoary, diffuse, spreading. h. 1ft. to 3ft. Brazil, 1826. (L. B. C. 1332.)