SEED-VESSEL. Capsule oblong, obtuse, narrowed at the base, two-celled, two valved; the partition opposite to the valves splitting from an elastic claw. SEEDS roundish. SPECIFIC CHARACTER. Justicia spicis terminalibus; floribus subcapitatis; foliis elipticis, nervosis, bullatis, lucidis; corollis bilabiatis, labio superiore lanceolato; caule fruticoso, glabro. Justicia with terminal spikes; flowers grow nearly in heads; leaves elliptic, nerved, blistered, and shining; blossoms two-lipped, the upper lip lance-shaped; stem shrubby, smooth. REFERENCE TO THE PLATE. 1. A Blossom cut open, with the Chives in their place. 2. The Cup and Pointal. 3. An unripe Seed. Most of the species of this genus of plants have hitherto been considered of little value in our collections, as few of them have woody stems, and from that character have a weedy appearance. This plant however is an exception, and is well worthy a place in collections where ornament only, not variety, is studied. It grows to the height of three feet, flowers in the month of August, is easily increased from cuttings, and may be kept in the hot-house, out of the bark-bed. The Justicia coccinea and this plant approach in the appearance of their flowers and habit; but the leaves differ much as well as many other minuter parts. It is a native of the East Indies, and was introduced about the year 1794. Our figure was taken from a plant in the Collection of G. Hibbert, Esq. Clapham Common. [Illustration] PLATE CCCXIV. ITEA SPINOSA. _Thorny Itea._ CLASS V. ORDER I. _PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA._ Five Chives. One Pointal. GENERIC CHARACTER. CALYX. Perianthium monophyllum, quinquefidum, erectum, acuminatum, minimum, persistens, laciniis acutis, coloratis. COROLLA. Petala quinque, lanceolata, longa, calyci inserta. STAMINA. Filamenta quinque, subulata, erecta, longitudine corollæ, calyci inserta. Antheræ subrotundæ, incumbentes. PISTILLUM. Germen ovatum. Stylus cylindraceus, persistens, longitudine staminum. Stigma obtusum. PERICARPIUM. Capsula ovata calyce multoties longior, stylo muconato, unilocularis, bivalvis ex duabus coalita apice dehiscens. SEMINA numerosa, minima, oblonga, nitida. EMPALEMENT. Cup one-leaf, five-cleft, upright, tapered, very small, remaining, segments pointed, coloured. BLOSSOM. Petals five, lance-shaped, long, inserted into the cup. CHIVES. Five threads, awl-shaped, upright, the length of the blossom, inserted into the cup. Tips roundish, laying on the threads. POINTAL. Seed-bud egg-shaped. Shaft cylindrical, permanent, the length of the chives. Summit obtuse. SEED-VESSEL. Capsule egg-shaped, much longer than the cup, tapering into the shaft, one-celled, two-valved of two joined, splitting at top. SEEDS numerous, very small, oblong, shining. SPECIFIC CHARACTER. Itea foliis cuneiformibus, emarginatis; spinis axillaribus. Itea with wedge-shaped leaves, notched at the end; spines grow at the insertion of the leaves. REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.