RUELLIA.  A  large  genus  of  Aeomiha-
CMF,  consisting  of  pilose  herbs,  natives  of
tropical  Asia  and  Australis.  They  have
opposite  leaves,  and  flowers  in  axillary  and
terminal  spikes,  with  leafy  bracts.  The
calyx  Is  five-parted ;  the  corolla  somewhat
campanulate,  with  a  limb  composed  of  Ave
equal  spreading  segments ;  the  four  dldy-
namous  stamens  are  included ;  the  style
is  simple,  with  a  subulate  stigma ;  and  the
capsule  is  two-celled,  with  six  to  eight
seeds.  Some  species  are  cultivated  because
of  the  beauty  of  their  flowers.      [W.  a]

Several  species  of  this  genus  are  used  in
the  Bast  in  the  preparation  of  a  blue  colour-
ing-matter of  the  nature  of  indigo,  but  no
precise  information  exists  as  to  the  parti-
cular species  thus  employed.  One  of  the
most  important  is  a  Chinese  plant,  tem-
porarily named  B.  indigotiea  by  Mr.  For-
tune. This  is  extensively  cultivated  in  the
neighbourhood  of  Ningpo  and  other  parts
of  the  province  of  Chekiang,  and  the  indigo
prepared  from  it  is  largely  used  by  the
country-people  for  dyeing  their  blue  cloth.
