{ 1761 J 
METROSIDEROS SPECIOSA, SHEWY 
METROSIDEROS, 
TERT ae ese ce teak sek seals he sles ae 
Cla/s and Order. 
Icosanpria Monocyntia. 
Generic CharaZer. 
Cal. §-fidus, femifuperus. Petala 5. Stamina longiffima, 
exlerta, Stigma fimplex. Cap/. 3- vel 4-locularis, 
Specific Charaffer. 
METROSIDEROS /pecio/a ; foliis fparfis lanceolatis venofis 
glandulofo-mucronulatis, capfulis quadrilocularibus apice 
tomentofis, 
Descr. Stem fhrubby, with long flexile branches. Leaves 
fcattered, vertical, lanceolate, quite entire, rigid, veined, when 
young pubefcent, fmooth when adult, terminated with a red 
gland. Flowers very numerous, crowded together in a bottle- 
brufh form, a little below the extremity of the branch. Calyx 
§-toothed ; teeth obtufe, very hairy on the inner fide. Petals 5, © 
orbicular, green, inferted in the margin of the calyx. Stamens 
numerous, fifty and upwards : filaments very long, deep {carlet, 
diftin&t to the ‘bafe, inferted into a glandular ring furrounding 
the crown of the germen: anthers incumbent, oblong, finally 
lunular: Pollen yellow. Germen generally four-celled, now and 
then three-celled. Ovula very many, oblong, inferted intoa cen- 
tral receptacle. S¢y/e thicker than the filaments, about the fame 
length : Sigma capitate lobular. Capfule woody, edged with the 
perfiftent teeth of the calyx, and the hollow crown covered with 
a thick tomentum, in which the lines marking the number of cells 
ae vifible, 
This is a very fplendid flower from the rich colour of the 
filaments, though the quantity of yellow pollen conceals part of 
its brilliancy, It differs from Merrosiperos Janceolaig 
(citrina, 
