Prepusa
(from the Greek word prepo, which means "I am handsome"; on account of the beauty of the flowers). ORD. Gentianeae. A small genus (three species) of herbaceous or shrubby, erect, slightly branched, greenhouse plants, confined to Brazil. Flowers large, few, long-stalked, at length often nodding; calyx inflated, campanulate, shortly six-lobed; corolla campanulate, with six broad, short, twisted lobes. Leaves opposite, slightly fleshy, mostly approximate at the base of the stem; upper ones scattered, sessile or connate. For culture of P. Hookeriana, the only species hitherto introduced (probably not now in cultivation), see Leianthus.
P. Hookeriana (Hooker's).* fl. disposed in racemiform cymes of three to five; pedicels naked, elongated; corolla tube campanulate, the limb pale yellowish-white, with obovate, apiculate lobes. March. l. spathulate-lanceolate, slightly obtuse; cauline ones few, sub-connate at base. Stem herbaceous, purplish, almost simple. h. 1ft. 1839. (B. M. 3909.)