P. ligustrina of M. Lasitxarpiére, an inhabitant of shaded, 
subhumid woods in New South Wales and Van Diemen’s 
Land ; but that species differs essentially in having an invo- 
lucrum of four equal-sized leaves, hermaphrodite flowers 
simply, and a stigma perfectly smooth. 
‘When treated as a hardy greenhouse plant, it thrives vi- 
gorously, and in its season puts forth its flower-heads in. 
abundance. Like other congeners, it blossoms in the spring, 
and, in the Royal Gardens at Kew, whence flowering spe- 
cimens were liberally afforded by Mr. Arron, it was raised 
from seeds received trom New South Wales, soon after the 
return to Port Jackson of its indefatigable discoverer, from 
his last voyage of Botanic enterprise to the coasts of South- 
ern Australia, in 1829. 
Descr. A tall, evergreen shrub, with a few smooth, twiggy branches ; 
the older ones, having a bright brown-coloured bark. Leaves opposite 
and decussate, spreading, distant on the branch, inserted on very short, 
thick petioles, elliptically oblong, and oftentimes much narrower, acute, 
throughout very smooth, veined, of a darkish-green on the upper side, 
and glaucous pale hue beneath. Flowers numerous, collected into a 
rather densely crowded head, upon a terminal peduncle, gradually thick- 
ening upwards. Jnvolucre very silky throughout, of eight leaves, of 
which frequently, the four inner are smaller. These flowers are poly- 
gamous, having hermaphrodite and female’ flower-heads, on distinct 
plants. In the former, the stamens are exserted, and longer than the 
fully developed style, which in some instances extends but little beyond 
the mouth of the perianth. In the latter, the style is exserted, smooth, 
double the length of the tube of the flower (within which are inserted on 
very short filaments, two abortive anthers) with the capitated stzgma of 
the Genus, which in our plant is grossly ciliated. Perzanths of both, 
externally very villous, articulated, base persistent, dilated and hairy, 
enclosing loosely the ovariwm which is oval, green, having a pencil-like 
tuft of hairs at its apex, and inserted on a pilose receptacle. 
Another, and even rarer species, in the English gardens, has been in 
_ flower during the last spring at Kew. It proved to be P. clavata, 
Lasitt., a plant originally discovered, many years ago, in Van Die- 
men’s Land, and afterwards observed on the south coast of New Hol- 
land by Mr. Brown; and from the desert native shores of others of its 
kindred, King George’s Sound, was introduced to the Royal Gardens in 
1823. It forms a large shrub of robust habit : produces dicecious flowers, 
and in its native country, the fruit it perfects, is a small, baccated 
Seupe- _its rather myrtle-like leaves, glossy above and villous on the 
under side, may give it some claim to a place in a general collection of 
___ exotics ; but we fear, a plant producing flowers in very small heads, and 
_ Certainly the least attractive of all the known species of this, in many 
_ other respects, much esteemed Genus, furnishes too little, to secure the 
= peu. = oo of the gay, and gaudy-flowering vegetables of 
ey “vig. 1. Hermas hrodite Flower. 2. Head of Fe 3. Si oe 
la Peat eat : - & male Flowers. 3. Single Fe- 
oS -_ Se 4.  ortion of the same, showing an abortive Stamen: siagushed. 
