Ourisia
(so called in honour of Governor Ouris, of the Falkland Islands, from whom Commerson obtained the plant). SYN. Dichroma. ORD. Scrophularineae. A genus comprising about eighteen species of mostly low hardy perennial herbs, rarely woody at the base; six are natives of New Zealand or Tasmania, and the rest inhabit the Andes or Antarctic parts of South America. Flowers often scarlet or pink, whorled, racemed, corymbose, or solitary; scapes bracteate, one or many-flowered. Leaves chiefly radical, petioled, crenate or entire. O. coccinea is a very ornamental plant for growing in patches, and requires a moist and sweet soil, well drained. A position where it must endure exposure to hot sunshine is fatal to it. It is a slow surface creeper, and should be planted freely in frequented parts of the garden. Propagated readily, by divisions of the roots, in early spring. Similar culture will answer for the other species. The two species described here are the only ones seen in gardens.
O. coccinea (scarlet).* fl. scarlet, with exserted, cream-coloured anthers, drooping, 1 1/2in. long, in panicled clusters. May to September. l. mostly radical, oval or oblong, unevenly but not deeply notched. h. 6in. to 12in. Andes of Chili, 1862.B. M. 5335.) O. Pearcei (Pearce's).* fl. crimson, streaked with deep blood-red, tubular, two-lipped, several to a scape. l. ovate, coarsely crenated, purplish beneath. Chili, 1863. A handsome species. (F. M. 154.)