Page:Appendix to the first twenty-three volumes of Edwards's Botanical Register.djvu/15

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APPENDIX.
v

Australia; the richest in species are Myrtaceæ, especially the curious and beautiful tribe of Chamælaucieæ, Fabaceæ or Leguminosæ, Rutaceæ, Lasiopetaleæ, Droseraceæ, Pittosporaceæ, Compositæ, Epacridaceæ, Goodeniaceæ, Styidiaceæ, Proteaceæ, Hæmodoraceæ, and Orchidaceæ; concerning each of which it is necessary to offer some special observations.


Myrtaceæ.

Of this extensive order, of which the Australian forms are so numerous and very peculiar, the Colony contains a large number of species, among which the Chamælaucieæ are extremely interesting. These chiefly consist of bushes, with small heath-like leaves, and white, yellow, or purple flowers, of great brilliancy, more or less collected into heads. Although scarcely noticed in the reports of either Brown or Frazer, they form a most striking object in the vegetation. Of the genus Calytrix alone there are ten species in my collection; the three most remarkable of which are C. flavescens, Cunn., C. aurea,1 (Tab. III. B), with oval imbricated leaves and heads of the brightest yellow flowers, whose sepals end in awns, at first yellow but afterwards olive-green; and C. sapphirina,2 a most beautiful plant, with hispid


(1) Calytrix aurea (Tab. III. B); strigoso-pubescens, foliis inbricatis oblongis obtusis ciliatis, bracteis margine membranaceis mucronatis tubo calycis brevioribus, aristis petalis duplò longioribus, floribus icosandris.

(2) Calytrix sapphirina; hispido-pilosa, foliis linearibus petiolatis carinatis, caputulis sphæricis, foliis floralibus villosis, bracteis lineari-lanceolatis acuminatis margine membranaceis tubo calycis gracili brevioribus, aristis tenuissimis petalis duplò longioribus, floribus icosandris.

(3) Calytrix breviseta; glaberrima, foliis linearibus semiteretibus obtusis mucronulatis, bracteis obovatis apiculatis tubo calycis æqualibus, aristis petalis paulò brevioribus, floribus icosandris axillaribus.—Flowers pale lilac,

(4) Calytrix variabilis; glaberrima, foliis linearibus tetragonis obtusis minutè papillosis imbricatis nunc lineari-oblongis distractis subverticillatis, bracteis obovatis apiculatis calycis tubi longitudine, aristis ciliatis petalis paulò longioribus, floribus icosandris axillaribus.—Flowers lilac.

(5) Calytrix simplex; ramulis pubescentibus, foliis linearibus obtusis glabris carinatis, bracteis lanceolatis acuminatis pubescentibus calycis tubo duplò brevioribus, aristis petalis paulò longioribus, floribus icosandris axillaribus.—Flowers lilac.

(6) Calytrix glutinosa; glaberrima, foliis linearibus semiteretibus obtusis imbricatis, bracteis lanceolatis acuminatis glutinosis tubo calycis paulò brevioribus ultra medium connatis, aristis petalis duplò longioribus, floribus icosandris corymbosis.—Flowers apparently yellow, tinged with purple.