36 



OXYLOBIUM obovatum. 

 Wedge- leaved Oxylobium. 



DECANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 

 Nat. ord. Leguminos^:, § Papilionaceje. 

 OXYLOBIUM. Botanical Register, vol. b.fol. 392. 



0. obovatum ; foliis late obovato-cuneatis obtusis truncatis retusisve mucro- 

 nulatis crassis coriaceis, racemis axillaribus dense capitatis multifloris, 

 calycibus sericeo-villosis subferrugineis, ovario 4-ovulato. Bentham in 

 Lind ley's Swan River Vegetation, p. xii. 



0. cuneatum. lb. 



As an addition to the hard wooded Australian shrubs with 

 yellow pea-flowers this is acceptable, for it forms a pretty 

 greenhouse plant which lasts in blossom for some time. It is 

 the species intended by Mr. Bentham by his O. cuneatum, 

 as we have ascertained by comparing it with one of the original 

 specimens from which his specific character was framed; but we 

 cannot regard it as distinguished from O. obovatum, and, as 

 that name has been applied to it in the nurseries, we adopt 

 it in preference. We have not seen the fruit. 



Fig. 1. represents the calyx, and 2. a section of the ovary 

 of the plant. 



It is best cultivated in a soil which is rather poor ; com- 

 posed of very sandy loam and peat, and should be kept in a 

 cold pit where it is quite secure from frost during winter. 

 The pot must be well drained, and the plant should be seldom 

 shifted after it is once established : when the shifting does 

 take place, it should be a liberal one. Great care must also 

 be taken that the plant never suffers for want of water ; if 

 this happens it hardly ever recovers; moreover, it should 

 never be placed out of doors during the summer, but always 

 be kept in a cold pit where the lights can be put on in wet or 

 windy weather. 



