Part 63

COROLLA monopetala, infundibuliformis. Tubus cylindraceus, imperforatus, limbo longior. Limbus quadrifidus; laciniis ovatis, acutis, planis, patentibus.

STAMINA. Filamenta octo, brevia, tubo inserta; alterna inferiora. Antheræ subrotundæ, erectæ, biloculares.

PISTILLUM. Germen ovatum. Stylus brevissimus. Stigma capitatum, depresso-planum.

PERICARPIUM. Bacca subrotunda, unilocularis.

SEMEN unicum, subrotundum, carnosum.

EMPALEMENT, none.

BLOSSOM one petal, funnel-shaped. Tube cylindrical, closed at the base, longer than the border. Border four-cleft; segments egg-shaped, sharp, flat, and spreading.

CHIVES. Eight short threads, fixed to the tube; four alternately lower than the others. Tips roundish, upright, with two cells.

POINTAL. Seed-bud egg-shaped. Shaft very short. Summit a low, smooth knob.

SEED-VESSEL. A roundish berry, of one cell.

SEED, single, roundish, and fleshy.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Daphne, pedunculus axillaribus, bifloris; foliis obovatis, nitidis.

Spurge-laurel, the fruit stalks growing from the base of the leaves, with two flowers each; leaves inversely egg-shaped, and shining.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. A Flower cut open, to shew the situation of the Chives. 2. The Pointal, (natural size). 3. A ripe Seed.

Tournefort in his Voyage to the Levant, Vol. III. has described this plant under the name of, Thymelæa Pontica Citrei foliis; Dr. P. Pallas in his Flora Rossica, has likewise figured and described it, under the title it bears in the Sp. Plan. p. 511; from both of whom we learn, that it is a native of the coast of the Black Sea, and therefore perfectly hardy, at least sufficiently so to endure our climate. It is the handsomest in foliage of any species of the genus, having, like most of them, fragrant flowers; which begin to shew themselves with the first budding of the plant in spring, about the first week in March. Like our common Spurge-laurel it delights in shade, making a pretty evergreen shrub, about two feet in height; and grows best in a light loamy soil. Although this plant has been long known by name, it had not been seen in England till 1795, a year subsequent to its being sent in seeds to Messrs. Lee and Kennedy, Hammersmith. It flowered for the first time here, in 1798; but our drawing was not made till this year, about the middle of April. It is propagated by the seed, or cuttings.

PLATE LXXIV.

PERSOONIA LANCEOLATA.

Lance-shaped leaved Persoonia.

CLASS IV. ORDER I.

TETRANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Four Chives. One Pointal.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

CALYX, nullus.

COROLLA. Petala quatuor, basin versus staminifera, reflexa, apice incrassata.

Nectariæ. Glandulæ quatuor globosæ, ad basin germinis.

STAMINA. Filamenta quatuor brevia, singula ex singuli petali medio enata. Antheræ lineares, conniventes, demum reflexæ.

PISTILLUM. Germen superum, ovatum. Stylus subulatus, glaber, persistens. Stigma obtusum, declinatum.