Tab. 6921. 



ADESMIA BALSAM IOA. 

 Native of Chili. 



Nat. Ord. LEGUMiNOsa:. — Tribe Hedysare.k. 

 Genus Adesmia, DC; (Benth. et HooJc.f. Gen. PL vol. i. p. 517.) 



Adesmia balsamica ; frutex diffuse ramosissimus glabrescens glandulosus, minis 

 gracilibus, foliortuil rache oompnmo denticulato, foliolis parvulis 10-13-jugis 

 ellipticis cuneato-obovatisve craasiusoalu integril v. sorrulatis rugulosis medio 

 canaliculars, raoemia copiosia teiminalibuslaxiHoris,floribus longe gracile pedi- 

 cellatis, calycia tubo campanulato v. bemispberico dentibus triangulari-ovatis 

 patulis, corolla aurea, vexillo orbiculari, legumine G-8-articulato puberulo. 



A. balsamica. Beriero in 3£tm. Acad. Turin, vol. xxxvii. p. 59, t. x. ; Hook, and 

 Am. Bot. Beech. Yoy. 20, in note, excl. st/n. Molini ; C. Gay, Flor. Ghil. 

 vol. i. p. 180. 



The genus Adesmia, though containing upwards of 

 eighty species of shrubs, has not hitherto found favour in 

 the eyes of horticulturists, and indeed the few species 

 hitherto figured in British horticultural works (Bot. Reg. 

 t; 1720; Sweet, Brit. Fl. Gard. Ser. 2, t. 222, 230, 322) 

 have nothing to recommend them to cultivators. To these 

 the subject of our plate forms a striking contrast, for A. 

 balsamica is both a graceful and very beautiful shrub ; its 

 balsamic odour, delicate ramification and foliage, and 

 abundant golden flowers together render it a most attrac- 

 tive shrub for the green-house, if not for the open air, in at 

 any rate the milder parts of England and Ireland. It is a 

 native of Chili, and appears to be abundant on the hill-sides 

 near Valparaiso, from whence there are specimens in the 

 Herbarium from numerous contributors. Claude Gay 

 describes it as the most valuable of all the Adesmia* on 

 account of its exquisite balsamic odour, which in its native 

 country can be perceived at a great distance, and it is also 

 a reputed medicine. 



Specimens of this beautiful plant were sent for figuring 

 in the Botanical Magazine by Sir George MacLeay, 

 K.C.M.G., who flowered it in his rich conservatory at 



feb. 1st, 1887. 



