Tab. 4133 

 BACKHOUSIA myrtifolia. 



Myrtle-leaved Backhousia. 



Nat. Ord. Myktace^e. — Icosandria Monogynia. 



BACKHOUSIA. Hook, et Ifarv. Calycis tubus turbinatus, inferne 

 ovario adhserens, villosus, extus basi bracteis caducis imbricatis: limbus 

 persistens profunde 5-partitus, lobis tubo longioribus patentibus corollatis 

 (albis) petaloideis. Petala 5 parva, calycis segmentis triple- minora, 

 ovato-rotundata, acuta, valde concava. Stamina numercsissima, corolla 

 calyceque longiora. Antherce parvae subrotundae. Ovarium tubi parte 

 inferiore adnaturn, superne liberum hirsutissimum biloculare ; loculis poly- 

 spermis : dissepimento placentifero. Ovula plurima. Fructus (immaturus) 

 siccus, coriaceus. — Frutices Australasici, ramis teretibus nunc villosis. 

 Folia opposita sessilia v. brevissime petiolata, ovato-acuminata,subcoriacea, 

 pellucido-punctulata, penninervia nervoque intramarginali. Flores ma- 

 jusculi, luteo-albi, in cymas pedunculatas oppositas terminalesque dispositi. 



Backhousia myrtifolia; foliis ovato-acuminatis, nervis patentibus. 

 Backhousia myrtifolia. ^Hook. et Harv. MS. 



This very pretty greenhouse shrub, its conspicuous petaloid 

 calycine segments giving the idea at first sight of large 

 corollas to the flowers, was found by Mr. James Backhouse 

 in the Illawara district of New South Wales ; and, not being 

 referable to any Myrtaceous Genus yet described, Mr. Harvey 

 and myself are anxious to dedicate it to our mutual friend 

 now mentioned, who, amidst his various and arduous labors 

 of love during a voyage to, and journeyings in, various parts 

 of Australia and South Africa,* still found leisure to collect 

 and to describe in manuscript many interesting plants, which 

 his previous botanical acquirements enabled him to do with 

 great judgment. The greater number of these specimens are 

 placed, partly in the hands of Mr. Brown, and partly in those 



* See " Narrative of a Visit to the Australasian Colonies/' and " Narrative 

 of a Visit to the Mauritius and South Africa, by James Backhouse ; works 

 which will gratify and instruct the Naturalist as well as the Philanthropist. 



