SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Pultenæa foliis ternis, verticillatis, lanceolatis, serratis, rigidis; floribus capitatis, cæruleo-purpureis.
Pultenæa with leaves growing by threes in whorls, lance-shaped, sawed and harsh; flowers grow in heads, and of a bluish purple.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The Cup.
2. The Standard.
3. One of the Wings.
4. The two Petals of the Keel.
5. The Chives and Pointal.
6. The same, magnified.
7. The Pointal.
8. A ripe Seed-pod, open.
9. One of the Seeds, of its natural size when ripe.
Here we find another hiatus to fill up, or pass over; either a new genus is to be formed for this plant, or we must not boggle at trifles, and skip over one of the essential characters of Dr. Smith’s Pultenæas, the appendicles or props at the side of the cup, which are wanting in this plant, though agreeing in every other. We have, however, until the Doctor shall think fit to regulate these new, numerous and intricate genera and species from New Holland, made no scruple to add this plant, as another species, to the genus Pultenæa. It is a low growing bushy shrub, seldom attaining more than a foot in height; is very apt to be destroyed by damp in winter, and is not to be propagated but by seeds, which, however, it perfects in this country. The blossoms begin to appear in May, and continue in succession through the summer months of June, July, and August. It should be kept warm and dry in winter, growing with most luxuriance in light sandy peat earth, and flowering the second year from the seed. This plant was first raised in 1792, by Messrs. Lee and Kennedy, at their nursery, Hammersmith, where our drawing was taken.[Pg 127]
PLATE CCCLII.
HELONIAS BULLATA.