Columnea
(named after Fabius Columna, or, more correctly, Fabio Colonna, an Italian of noble family; author of "Minus Cognitarum Stirpum Ecphrasis," Rome, 1616, and "Phytobasanos," 1 vol., 4to, Naples, 1592). ORD. Gesneraceoe. A genus of stove evergreens. Peduncles axillary, solitary, or crowded; corolla tubular, straightish, gibbous behind at the base, ringent; upper lip erect, arched; lower one trifid, spreading. Leaves decussately opposite, thickish, hairy or pubescent, somewhat serrated. Stems flexile, erect, or scandent. For culture, see AEschynanthus.
C. aurantiaca (orange).* fl. of the deepest and richest orange-colour; calyx pale yellowish-green. June. New Grenada, 1851. This beautiful but rare species makes an excellent basket plant; it grows well upon a lump of nearly rotten wood, which will absorb water like a sponge, and give it back gradually to the plant. (F. d. S. 552.) C. aureo-nitens (bright golden).* fl. deep rich orange-red. September. l. broadly-lanceolate, and densely clothed with golden-coloured silky-shaggy hairs. Columbia, 1843. A very distinct and singular species. (B. M. 4294.) C. erythrophaea (bright red).* fl. solitary, axillary; corolla bright red, large; calyx large, spreading, blotched with red inside. November. l. lanceolate, tapering to a point, oblique at the base, rich deep green. h. 2ft. Mexico, 1858. Shrub. (R. H. 1867, 170.) C. hirsuta (hairy). fl. usually twin; corolla purplish, or pale red, villous, hairy; calycine segments denticulated, hairy. August to November. l. ovate, acuminated, serrated, hairy above; petiolate. Jamaica, 1780. Climbing shrub. (B. M. 3081.) C. Kalbreyeriana (Kalbreyer's).* fl. on short racemes; corolla yellow, exceeding the calyx in length, marked with red stripes in the interior; calyx yellow, 1 1/2in. to 2in. long. February. l. opposite, lanceolate, curving downwards on either side of the stem, dull green above, somewhat spotted with pale yellow; the lower surface being of a deep claret-red. One leaf of each pair is much smaller than the other, and the large and small leaves alternate. 1882. Habit shrubby, perhaps half-climbing; stems rather thick, fleshy. (B. M. 6633.) C. rutilans (ruddy-leaved). fl. corolla reddish-yellow, villous; calycine segments jagged, villous. August, September. l. ovate lanceolate, denticulated, rather scabrous, hairy, and coloured beneath. Jamaica, 1823. Climbing shrub.
C. scandens (climbing). fl. solitary; corolla scarlet, melliferous, hairy; calycine segments denticulated, pubescent. August. l. ovate, acute, serrated, rather villous, petiolate. Stems quadrangular. Climbing shrub. Guiana, 1759. (B. M. 1614.) C. Schiedeana (Schiede's).* fl., corolla 2in. long, clothed with glandular hairs, variegated with yellow and brown; calycine segments entire, spotted and villous. June. l. oblong-lanceolate, quite entire, about 5in. long, and 1 1/2in. broad, clothed with silky hairs. Stems nodose, smoothish at bottom, but clothed with purplish hairs. Mexico, 1840. Herbaceous climber. (B. M. 4045.)