97 0 
LESSERTIA fruticosa. 
Shrubby Lessertia. 
- 4 - 
DIADELPHIA DECANDRIA. 
Nat. ord. Leguminosae. Tribus Lotege Decandolle. 
Cnr semi( l uin q ue fidus. Vexillum explanatory 
Canrea obtusa.^ Stamina diadelpha, 9-1. Stigma capitatum. Stylus anting 
barba transversa apicis, postic& imberbis. Legumen scariosum, indehiscens 
compressum aut inflatum, latere superiore breviore-Herboe, rarius Suf- 
trutices Capenses. Folia impari-pinnata. Pedunculi axillares. Flores 
racemosi, purpurei, nutantes. Dec. prodr. 2. 271. 
L. fruticosa; folas lineanbus obtusis 5-6-jugis, caule petiolis pedunculis 
calycibusque pilosis, racemis erectis dissitifloris foliis paulo lono-ioribus 
iegummibus oblongis sessilibus 4-spermis. 
We are acquainted with this plant only by the accom- 
panying figure, which was made some years ago at Mr. 
Colvill’s Nursery, where it was at that time cultivated 
under the name here adopted. We do not find any pub¬ 
lished species to which it is referable. 
A native of the Cape of Good Hope. 
In the Botanical Appendix by Mr. Brown to Major 
Denham’s travels in Africa, which has just appeared, we 
notice a curious observation upon the distinctions between 
Leguminosae and Rosaceae. 
“ No clear character,” Mr. Brown observes, “ is pointed 
out in the late elaborate work of M. de Candolle, by which 
Leguminosae may be distinguished from Terebintaceae and 
Rosaceae, the orders supposed to be most nearly related to 
it. It is possible, however, that such characters, though 
hitherto overlooked, may really exist; and I shall endea¬ 
vour to shew that Leguminosae, independent of the im¬ 
portant but minute differences in the original structure and 
developement of its ovulum, may still be distinguished, at 
least, from Rosaceae.” 
VOL. XII. 
D 
