Viviania
(named in honour of Domenico Viviani, 1772-1840, a professor and botanist of Genoa, &c.) SYN. Macraea. ORD. Geraniaceae. A genus embracing about eight species of stove or greenhouse herbs, sub-shrubs, or small shrubs, inhabiting extra-tropical or sub-tropical South America. Flowers regular, sub-fasciculate or corymbose-paniculate in the upper axils; calyx of five, rarely four, valvate lobes; petals five, rarely four, hypogynous, twisted; stamens ten, rarely eight, free, all bearing anthers. Leaves opposite, entire or often crenately or deeply toothed, usually snowy-tomentose beneath. It is doubtful whether the under-mentioned species are now in cultivation. They are, however, pretty, greenhouse shrubs, and thrive in a compost of loam, peat, and sand. Propagation may be effected by young cuttings, inserted in sand, under a glass.
V. grandifolia (large-leaved). fl. white or red; peduncles shorter than the leaves. July. l. grey and glandular beneath, with prominent veins. Branches pubescent. h. 1ft. to 2ft. Chili, 1832.
V. parvifolia (small-leaved). fl. rose-coloured; peduncles shorter than the leaves. July. l. snowy beneath, obscurely veined. Branches cobwebby. h. 1ft. to 2ft. Chili, 1832.