SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Pultenæa foliis oblongis, villosis; floribus axillaribus, solitariis, spicatis; caule villoso; calycibus inappendiculatis.

Pultenæa with oblong, hairy leaves; flowers grow from the insertion of the leaves, solitary, and in spikes; stem hairy; cup without props.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. A Leaf.
2. The Cup, natural size.
3. The Standard of the blossom.
4. One of the Wings of the blossom.
5. The two Leaves of the keel.
6. The Empalement, Chives, and Pointal, magnified.
7. The Seed-bud, Shaft, and Summit, magnified.

Where to place the limits to the various new genera of this very extended natural order of plants, with butterfly blossoms, from New Holland, appears a talk of some difficulty with our modern botanists; for, no sooner have we formed an essential character for a genus, than immediately we are struck with the appearance of new plants, whose whole habits assimilate with our newly constructed family, but in the principal and pointed essential character. In such predicament stands our present subject, it wants the appendicula to the cup, yet has it been placed, by Willdenow, &c. to Pultenæa; and with good reason, we presume, for if every difference of this nature was taken up, on which to form new genera, nearly every plant from that country would furnish grounds for new names; and, to say the truth, we think they are, already, sufficiently extended. The Pultenæas are all rather impatient of wet, and although they are not frequently killed by too much moisture, yet they become unsightly, by losing all their lower leaves. This species grows to the height of about three feet; and, when in flower, makes a very handsome appearance. It perfects its seeds, and may be increased by cuttings, which should be put in about the beginning of April. A mixture of sandy peat three parts, and one fourth part of loam, is the best soil to grow it in. It was amongst the first plants which were raised from Botany Bay seeds in this country. Our figure was made at the Hammersmith nursery, in 1801.[Pg 43]

[Pg 44]

PLATE CCCX.

STACHYS COCCINEA.