Generic Character.
Cor. 1-petala, infundibuliformis, longa, supera, Stamina supra faucem. Bacca 4-sperma.
Specific Character and Synonyms.
IXORA coccinea foliis ovalibus semiamplexicaulibus, floribus fasciculatis. Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14. Murr. Ait. Hort. Kew. p. 148.
JASMINUM indicum, lauri folio, inodorum umbellatum, floribus coccineis. Pluk. alm. 196. t. 59. s. 2.
CERASUS zeylanica humilis sylvestris, floribus holosericeis intense rubris umbellatim congestis, fructibus nigris. Mus. Zeyl. p. 15.
FLAMMA SYLVARUM Rumph. Amb. 4. p. 105. t. 46.
It will appear strange, we presume, to most of our readers, when they are informed, that the Ixora coccinea, a plant at present in few hands, and which a short time since was sold in some of our nurseries for five guineas, should have been known in this country a hundred years ago; and yet Mr. Aiton, who has so laudably exerted himself, in ascertaining the precise period, when most of the exotics cultivated in the royal garden at Kew first made their appearance in Great-Britain, informs us on very respectable authority, that this plant was introduced by Mr. Bentick in 1690.
There is every reason to suppose, that this splendid exotic did not long survive its introduction; on inquiry, we learn that it was reintroduced about fifteen years ago, by the late Dr. John Fothergill, a name, to medicine and botany ever dear, in whose rich and magnificent collection at Upton was first known to flower; about the same time, the late Mr. Thoburn, Nurseryman at Brompton, raised a few Ixoras from foreign seeds, and from these (an accident having happened to the plant which was Dr. Fothergill's) are said to have arisen the plants at present in this country.