Volume 4 — PLATE CCXVIII. EMBOTHRIUM BUXIFOLIUM. Box-leaved Embothrium.

CLASS IV. ORDER I.

TETRANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Four Chives. One Pointal.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

Corolla tetrapetala. Stamina limbo inserta. Folliculus polyspermus. Semina alata.

Blossom four-petals. Chives inserted into the limbs. One-celled pod, many seeded. Seeds winged.

See Embothrium sericeum, Pl. C. Vol. II.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Embothrium foliis ellipticis, integerrimis, margine revolutis, pubescentibus; umbellis terminalibus; folliculo villoso.

Embothrium with elliptical, entire leaves, rolled back at the edge, and downy; umbels terminal; seed-pod hairy.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. A Flower, magnified, the petals yet attached to each other.

2. The same, the petals disengaged.

3. The Pointal, magnified.

4. A Seed-vessel, natural size.

5. A ripe Seed, natural size.

This we believe is amongst the most rare of the plants, hitherto introduced, from New Holland. It has been figured in the third Number of New Holland Botany, published by Dr. Smith in 1793: it is there said not to have been, at that time, in England; but, as it had not then flowered, the plant was not known, although in the collection of Messrs. Lee and Kennedy, three years precedent to that publication; and where, it first flowered in 1795. Our figure was taken in September 1789 from a plant (we fear the only one at present in this kingdom) in the Hibbertian collection. It has not yet been propagated with us, and the seeds do not mature. The plant is nearly four feet high, and forms a handsome, bushy shrub, continuing in flower nearly the whole summer. Over the whole plant there is a brown, or rusty-like appearance, which takes much from its beauty. It flourishes in peat earth.