757 



GNIDIA denudata. 

 Smooth-leaved Gnidia. 



* 

 ^ 



OCTANDRIA MOlfOGYlflA. 



Nat. ord. Thykelmir. Sro¥mprod. 1. 358. 

 GNIDIA, Suprd vol 1. fol. % 



Q. demtdataf foliis ovato-oblongis quadrifariam imbricatitf pilosis trinervibus: 

 nerria deoudatia, 6oribu3 terminalibus rillosis : villis sparsU patentibus. 

 Suflrutex erecta, graalU, ramu teretibus viUosis, J^dia ovato-obhnga, 

 obtwiuscuia, plana, trinervia, quadrifariam imbricatat ciHataf aeuiUaf ban 

 tiUosa, adsita ^trinqiie glabriugetUa (pube rara ad»per$a) ; nehris deimdatia. 

 Flores terminales, lutei, foliis hmgiorei, villi* Im^is patentibui eorfertti, 

 ovarii aUm, corolla nigrescenttbus, tecti. Tubus gradtu, subarcuatuSf cla- 

 vatus. limbus patent, quadrifidm, ladniit ooaluna, intus glabris. Squa- 

 mie 8, didymte, parvcst ere<Aa, ad sinns limbi. Stamina 8^ erecta, ovata, 

 biserialia, subsessilia : 4 tuperiora exserta, 4 inferiora inchisa. Stylus tubo 

 brevior, usque ad stamina inferiora tantum attingen*. Stigma acu^im, sub- 

 hirautum. 



This species of Gnidia is nearly related to the Gnidia 

 imhricata of Linnseus ; but we think it decidedly distin- 

 guished from that species by the differences we have pointed 

 out in the specific character. In G. imbricata the leaves are 

 oblong, very blunt, and covered all over with so very dense 

 and silky a pubescence, that no portion of the sur&ce even 

 bf the midrib is exposed ; and the flowers are in like man- 

 ner protected by a similar covering of closely pressed pu- 

 bescence. In this species, on the contrary, the leaves are 

 ovate-oblong and nearly acute, and the hairs upon the leaves 

 are principally in the form of cilise at their edges; the three 

 nerves of their lower sur&ce being quite naked and dis- 

 tinct ; and the hairs upon the flower few in number, 

 long, spreading, and df a blackish colour when care- 

 folly examined. We are informed by Mr. Sweet, that 

 when the flower has been expanded for some days, its co- 

 lour, which is at first pale yellow, changes to ft brownish 

 orange, becoming darker daily : so that the plant has upon 

 it blossoms of several shades of orange and ydlow at the 

 same time. 



Our dramng was made at Mr. ColvilTs Nursery, in the 

 Kmg*s Road, Chelsea. 



f 



