Forrestia
(commemorative of Peter Forrest, a botanist of the seventeenth century). ORD. Commelinaceoe. A genus of seven species of pretty and singular stove perennials, of which one is from tropical Africa, and the rest natives of India and the Malayan Archipelago. For culture, see Commelina. F. Hookeri (Hooker's). fl. purplish, capitate, sessile, bracteate, in dense clusters from the lower sheaths, and often from the naked stems after the leaves have fallen; sepals boat-shaped; petals much paler, almost white, ovate, acute. l. sub-succulent, obovate-lanceolate, finely cordate-acuminate, more or less hairy, deep purple beneath, at length glabrous above, and there uniformly green, striately veined; base tapering downwards, often very hairy, and terminating in a large, striated, often very villous, sheathing base. Stem herbaceous, 1ft. to 3ft. long, simple below, creeping and radicant, and leafless. h. 3ft. Malay Archipelago, 1864. (B. M. 5425, under name of F. hispida.)