Torenia
(name commemorative of Olef Toren, a Swedish clergyman, who discovered T. asiatica and other plants in China; he died in 1753). SYNS. Nortenia, Pentsteria. ORD. Scrophularineae. A genus embracing about sixteen species of stove, glabrous, pubescent, or hairy herbs, natives of tropical and Eastern extra-tropical Asia and tropical Africa; one is also found in South America, where it was probably introduced. Calyx tubular, plicate or three to five-winged, obliquely three to five-toothed or bilabiate at apex; corolla tube cylindrical or enlarged above, the upper lip broad, emarginate or bifid, the lower one spreading, of three broad, sub-equal lobes; stamens four, perfect; pedicels ebracteolate; racemes short, few-flowered, fascicle-like, or rarely elongated. Leaves opposite, entire, crenated or serrated. The species known to cultivation are described below. They are of easy culture, and are admirably adapted for hanging baskets as well as for pot culture. The annuals may be raised from seed, sown in March or April, and placed in a warm temperature. When large enough to handle, the seedlings should be pricked off into the pots or baskets in which they are intended to flower. Torenias may also be readily propagated by cuttings: any young shoots will root in a close frame, or under a hand glass in a warm house. A compost of loam and leaf mould, with a little sand or charcoal intermixed, is most suitable. T. Fournieri, which grows erect, is best adapted for pot culture: its branches, which do not trail, need the support of a few small stakes. Green Fly are often troublesome to these plants when young. As a preventive, fumigate occasionally.
T. asiatica (Asiatic).* fl. on axillary and sub-umbellate pedicels; calyx 1in. long, scarcely winged; corolla blue, 1 1/4in. to 1 1/2in. long, with very dark violet lateral lobes. June. l. shortly petiolate, ovate-cordate or ovate-lanceolate, serrated, 1 1/2in. to 2in. long. Branches 6in. to 10in. long, slender, diffuse. India, &c., 1845. (B. M. 4249; F. d. S. x. 5, xiii. 1342; I. H. 199.) Annual.
T. a. hirsuta (hairy). fl., lower filaments having a very small tooth. Plant more pubescent than the type. (B. M. 5167, under name of T. hirsuta.)
T. auriculaefolia (Auricula-leaved). fl. numerous, growing separately on slender scapes; corolla lobes pale lilac, blotched with purple and veined with white on the disk. Summer. l. radical, sessile, ovate. India, 1871. This plant has much the habit of a Pinguicula. (F. M. 534.) Its proper name is Craterostigma pumilum.
T. Bailloni (Baillon's). A synonym of T. flava.
T. concolor (one-coloured). fl. large, on axillary peduncles longer than the leaves; corolla concolorous, violet-blue. Summer. l. stalked, ovate-cordate, acute, serrate. h. 6in. to 12in. China, 1844. A glabrous or sparingly-pubescent herb, with diffuse, elongated branches. (B. M. 6797; B. R. 62.)
T. cordifolia (cordate-leaved). fl. axillary and sub-umbellate; corolla pale blue, 2/3in. long; pedicels often longer than the leaves. July. l. petiolate, ovate, serrated, 1in. to 1 1/2in. long, cuneate or very rarely cordate at base; petioles rarely as long as the blade. h. 4in. to 8in. India, &c., 1811. A sub-erect, sparsely hairy annual. (B. M. 3715.)
T. edentula (toothless). A synonym of T. peduncularis.
T. flava (yellow).* fl. axillary and in distant pairs; corolla yellow, 1/2in. to 3/4in. long, with a purple eye; pedicels usually shorter than the calyx. Summer. l. sessile or petiolate, ovate or oblong-ovate, obtuse, entire or crenated. h. 6in. to 10in. India, &c., 1878. Erect or decumbent, sparsely hairy or glabrous. (B. M. 6700.) SYN. T. Bailloni (B. H. xxix. i., fig. 2; I. H. xxv. 324; R. H. 1879, 15). Annual.
T. Fordii (Ford's). fl. on short, sub-terminal, axillary peduncles; calyx with almost triangular teeth; corolla small, with an exserted tube, the limb straw-coloured with the lateral lobes blotched with violet. Summer. l. shortly-stalked, broadly ovate-rotundate or cordate. h. 6in. to 12in. An erect, pubescent herb. China. (B. M. 1797.)
T. Fournieri (Fournier's).* fl., calyx 3/4in. long, broadly five-winged; corolla tube pale violet, yellow at back, 1in. long; limb 1 1/2in. in diameter, the upper lip pale lilac, obscurely two-lobed, the lower one of three much smaller, bright violet, rounded lobes, the central one with a golden blotch at base; racemes terminal, erect. Summer. l. 1 1/2in. to 2in. long, ovate or ovate-cordate, acute, serrated, bright green. Branches crowded, erect from the root, 4in. to 8in. high, much-branched. Cochin China, 1876. Highly glabrous. Annual. (B. H. 1879, 1; B. M. 6747; Gn., Dec. 1877; I. H. n. s. 249; R. G. 927; R. H. 1876, 465.)
T. hirsuta (hairy). A variety of T. asiatica.
T. peduncularis (pedunculate-flowered). fl. usually pale blue, with yellow spots, midway between those of T. asiatica and T. cordifolia, but the filaments are not toothed, as in those species. June. l. petiolate, ovate, crenate-serrated. h. 6in. India, Philippines, &c., 1845. Decumbent or sub-erect, glabrous or softly hairy. SYN. T. edentula (B. M. 4229).