in his “ Dissertatio Brevis, &c., Nov. Pl. Gen.,” 1769, 
p. 88. Subsequent authors have frequently misprinted it 
Malacodendron, and Cavanilles (Diss. v. 1788, pp. 302- 
303, t. 158, f. 2, t. 159, f. 2) separated the two American 
species generically, adopting Malachodendron for 8. penta- 
gyna, and Stewartia for S. virginica. On account of this 
confusion the late Dr. A. Gray retained the name virginica 
for the species here figured ; but that did not remove the 
confusion. The mode of spelling the generic name was 
changed by L’Heritier (I.c.) who deliberately adopted the 
form Stewartia. ‘“‘Stewartiam consecrabat Linnaeus 
memoriae illustriss. Joannis Stuart, Comitis a Bute, Paris 
Angli . . . ergo Stuartia, nec Stewartia dicenda.” Most 
English and American writers have followed L’Heritier, 
and Britton and Brown (l.c.) have retained the altered 
form. Even Willdenow (Species Plantarum, 1800, vol. ii. 
p. 840) adopted Stuartia Malachodendron. As Linnaeus 
incorrectly cites Mitchell there is no necessity for con- 
tinuing the typographical error in the specific name, 
especially as the form Malachodendron—mallow-tree, is 
appropriate, whilst Malacodendion—soft-tree, is here 
meaningless. With regard to the generic name it is | 
different ; Linnaeus, although he cites Catesby’s page and 
plate, does not cite his name. 
This very ornamental shrub has never got into general 
cultivation in British gardens, perhaps partly on account 
of its not flourishing in ordinary garden soil, and partly 
because it does not usually flower freely until it has 
attained a considerable size. Catesby does not say any- 
thing about the size of his plant, which flowered three 
months after it reached England ; but it may be assumed 
that it was quite small. Philip Miller also mentions its 
having flowered before 1756, in Mr. Christopher Gray’s 
nursery garden at Fulham; and there are some recent 
records of its having flowered profusely, notably at Syon 
House. The drawing for the accompanying plate was 
made from specimens communicated by Sir Joseph Hooker, 
in whose garden at Sunningdale it flowered freely last 
year. | 
Descr.—A branching shrub, or small tree, 6-14 ft. high, 
with slender, pubescent flowering branches. Leaves de- 
ciduous, alternate, very shortly stalked, lanceolate or 
