Nesaea
(said to be from nesos, an island; on account of its having been found in the Island of Mauritius). Including Heimia. ORD. Lythrarieae. A genus comprising about a dozen species of glabrous or tomentose, erect, leafy, half-hardy herbs or sub-shrubs, with quadrigonal branches inhabiting the warmer parts of America and Africa. Flowers yellow, purple, or blue, disposed in axillary and often trichotomously divided peduncles, sometimes capitate; petals four to seven, inserted in the mouth of the calyx. Leaves opposite, rarely ternately whorled or alternate, entire. Seeds of the annual species must be sown in heat, in spring, and the plants hardened off and inserted in the open border at the end of May or beginning of June. The sub-shrubs, &c., succeed in sheltered spots, in any common garden soil. Propagated by seeds, by divisions of the root, or by cuttings. The two species here described are probably the only ones yet introduced.
N. salicifolia (Willow-leaved). fl., petals obovate. August. l. ternate or opposite, the uppermost ones often alternate, very shortly stalked, lanceolate, acute, narrow at base. h. 5ft. Mexico, &c., 1821. Sub-shrub. SYN. Heimia salicifolia.
N. triflora (three-flowered). fl. blue, in threes, on the apex of the peduncle. August. l. opposite, oblong-lanceolate, obtuse or acute, on short petioles. h. 2ft. to 3ft. Mauritius, &c., 1802. A slender, half-hardy annual.