Volume 4 — PLATE CCLXVI. PLATYLOBIUM OVATUM. Oval-leaved Flat-Pea.

CLASS XVII. ORDER IV.

DIADELPHIA DECANDRIA. Chives in two Sets. Ten Chives.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

Calyx campanulatus, quinquefidus; laciniis duabus supremis maximis, obtusis. Stamina omnia coalita. Legumen pedicillatum, compressum, dorso alatum, polyspermum.

Cup bell-shaped, five-cleft; the two upper segments very large and obtuse. The Chives all united. Pod on a foot-stalk, compressed, winged along the back, many seeded.

See Platylobium scolopendrum. Pl. CXCI. Vol. III.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Platylobium foliis ovatis, glaberrimis, distichis; floribus solitariis, axillaribus; ramis teretibus.

Flat-Pea with egg-shaped leaves, very smooth and pointing opposite ways; flowers grow solitary from the insertion of the leaves; branches cylinder-shaped.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. The Empalement of the Flower.

2. The Standard, or upper petal of the blossom.

3. One of the Wings, or side petals of the same.

4. The two lower Petals, or Keel of the blossom.

5. The Chives, magnified.

6. The Seed-bud, magnified.

This species of Flat-Pea was brought from New South Wales, at the same time as P. scolopendrum, and P. lanceolatum, to which last it has much affinity; but, we think, possesses a sufficient number of differing characters to constitute a distinct species. It has not as yet been increased, we believe, in Britain; any attempt, to that end, has hitherto proved abortive; from which circumstance the plants are at present scarce, and are to be found in few collections. The same treatment to preserve, and render the plant flourishing, is required for this, as for the other species. Our Drawing was made in 1801, at the Nursery of Messrs. Lee and Kennedy, Hammersmith, who first introduced it.