Pentapterygium
(from pente, five, and pterygion, a small wing; in allusion to the five-winged calyx). ORD. Vacciniaceae. A genus comprising about half-a-dozen species of greenhouse, glabrous or strigosohirsute, epiphytal shrubs, natives of the Eastern temperate Himalayas and the Khasia Mountains. Flowers red, yellow, or white bedewed with red, rather large, axillary, solitary, or disposed in few-flowered corymbs; calyx tube turbinate or hemispherical, five-winged; limb of five persistent, leafy lobes; corolla tubular, five-angled, with a limb of five sub-erect or recurved lobes; stamens ten. Leaves alternate, sub-sessile, rather large and scattered, or small and sub-distichously clustered, serrate. The species require well-drained peat, and may be grown either in teak baskets or in pots. Propagation may be effected by cuttings, inserted in sand, under a bell glass. P. flavum (yellow).* fl. yellow, margined with red, 1in. long, on red pedicels, disposed in short, axillary, pendulous or nodding racemes; corolla tubular, inflated, with five small lobes. l. 2in. to 3in. long, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, serrate, very shortly petioled, rugose above, paler below. h. 1ft. to 3ft. North-eastern India. (B. M. 4910.) P. rugosum (wrinkled).* fl. pendulous, about 1in. long, in few-flowered corymbs; corolla nearly white, beautifully marbled between the five angles with purple or blood-red bands, the mouth contracted and greenish. l. almost sessile, sub-cordate at base, very much wrinkled, lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, serrate, deep bright green above, paler beneath; young ones purplish. h. 1ft. to 3ft. Khasia Mountains. (B. M. 5198.) SYN. Vaccinium rugosum.
P. serpens (serpentine). fl. numerous, axillary, hanging along the under side of the branches; calyx green, five-angled; corolla bright red, with darker, V-shaped marks, 3/4in. long. l. small, lanceolate. Stems slender, drooping. Rootstock large, tuberous. h. 2ft. to 3ft. Himalayas, 1884. A small and graceful shrub. (B. M. 6777.)