Didymocarpus
(from didymos, twin, and karpos, a fruit; in reference to the twin capsules). ORD. Gesneraceae. A genus of about forty species of stove perennial, stemless or caulescent herbs, natives of tropical Asia. Flowers violaceous-blue or rarely yellow, disposed in dichotomous umbels; corolla funnel-shaped, with a ventricose throat. Leaves usually cordate, crenated, wrinkled, hairy. They succeed in a compost of peat, loam, and dried cow-dung, with the addition of a little sand. Propagated by cuttings, obtained from young shoots, when commencing growth; these should be placed in sandy soil, and in bottom heat.
D. crinita (hairy). fl. white, tinged with purple; tube incurved, swelling above; peduncles two to five together, axillary, oneflowered. July. l. alternate, 9in. to 10in. long, spathulate, acute, serrated, pilose, red. Stem short, thick, erect. h. 1ft. Pulo-Penang, 1845. (B. M. 4554.) D. Humboldtiana (Humboldt's). fl. pale lilac; panicle rather loose, five or six-flowered. October. A very neat and pretty little plant. (B. M. 4757.) D. primulaefolia (Primrose-leaved).* fl. lilac; peduncles twin, many-flowered, and, as well as the calyces, pilose. November. l. cordate-oval, petiolate, twice crenated, wrinkled and silky on both surfaces. Stem downy, bearing four crowded leaves at top. h. 3in. to 6in. Ceylon, 1858. (B. M. 5161.)