The very exact conformation of the flower in this, when compared with the other two species of the genus, already figured in this work; is a circumstance but seldom to be found, in plants, where the whole habit is so totally different in each species, as we here find it. This plant, until it flowered, was considered as a species of Conchium, (one of the Genera made by Dr. Smith from Banksia,) as nighest in appearance to some species of that Genus. It has flowered, for the first time in England, in the month of October, 1802. The plant being set in the conservatory at the Hammersmith-Nursery, the flowers have continued to succeed each other, progressively, upon the young branches, without intermission, as the shoot grows, from the base of each leaf. It is with great difficulty raised by cuttings; but, from every appearance, seed will be procured in this country; as the seed-buds have already become pretty large, and seeds of the other species have matured with us. It was first raised from seed, communicated by Colonel Paterson, from Port Jackson, New South Wales, in the year 1795. Sandy loam, or a mixture of sandy peat and loam, is the soil it most approves.[Pg 550]
PLATE CCLXXXI.
METROSIDERA HIRSUTA.
Hairy Metrosidera.
CLASS XII. ORDER I.
ICOSANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Twenty Chives. One Pointal.
GENERIC CHARACTER.
Calyx. Perianthium monophyllum, quinquefidum, semisuperum.
Corolla. Petala quinque, concava, subsessilia, decidua.
Stamina longissima, libera, filiformia. Antheræ incumbentes.