Crowea, foliis lanceolatis, utrinque glabris, integerrimis; floribus solitariis, axilaribus.
Crowea, with lance-shaped leaves, smooth on both sides, quite entire; flowers grow solitary from the bottom of the leaves close to the stem.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The Empalement.
2. The Chives.
3. One Chive detached, natural size.
4. The same magnified to shew the situation of the Tip.
5. The Pointal, natural size.
6. The same magnified.
7. A ripe Seed.
The number of handsome flowering plants from New Holland, already figured in the Botanist’s Repository; leads us to hope, the first, and indeed most generally prevailing opinion, that the insignificance of the flowers produced by the plants of that country, rendering them scarcely worth cultivation for ornament; must be nearly, if not quite done away: and we have reason to think, when farther explored, few countries will be able to stand a competition with it, for the singularity, variety, or beauty of its vegetable productions. The Willow-leaved Crowea we consider as one amongst the many strong arguments, to favour our opinion; it is rather a delicate plant, and should be kept in a dry and warm part of the greenhouse, where it will flower from the month of July, till November; growing three feet high, if planted in light sandy peat; and is easily propagated by cuttings. Although, this is the only species at present, in cultivation with us; there is little doubt from the number of handsome specimens of other species, which we have seen, in the different herbariums from Botany Bay; and from the character of the seeds, much resembling those of the Diosma, which are not subject to rapid decay; but we shall very soon be possessed of many more of this very beautiful Genus. Our drawing was made from the nursery at Hammersmith, where it was raised from seeds, in the year 1790. The generic title of this plant, is derived from the name of an English botanist at Norwich, Mr. James Crowe, F. L. S. see Linn. Tran. Vol. IV. page 222.[Pg 321]
PLATE 79
