157 



RETANILLA^t Brongn. 



Retanilla Ephedra. Brongniart in Am. des Sc. Nat. v. 10. p. 

 364. t 14. / 2. 



Colletia Ephedra. Vent. Choix. des PL t. 16. De Cand. 

 Prodr. V. 2. p. 29, 



Hab. In convallibus Andium Chilensium: alt. 2500 ad 



3500 ped. 



Mem 



above quoted. Dr. Gillies's specimens have only 

 fruit, which is as large as a hazel nut, and very different in 

 its nature from that of Colletia. The flowers, too, have the 

 disc clothing the whole internal surface of the calyx, accord- 

 mg to Brongniart; but M. Kunth appears to have entirely 

 overlooked it. 



In Dr. Gillies's collection of plants of this Nat. Order, are 

 two species with opposite and decussate spines and numerous 

 3 or 5 nerved leaves, one is in flower and fruit, the other 



twem the Colony round Port Jackson and the Settlement of Bathurst," pub- 

 lished in Mr. Barron Field's Memoirs on New South Wales, p. 352, n. fl., as 

 a second new genus of the order nhamnece, and related to Colletia," He thus 

 defines it; " Calyx sea PeriantMum monophyllum, quadrifidum. Cor. 0, sed 

 squamae 4, cucullatse inter segmenta perianthii. Anther<B 2-loculares, sub singu- 

 lis squamis. Stigma trilobatum. Germen 3-locuIare.— A junceous shrubby 



plant, with brachiate strong thorns."' As a species, it maybe thus charac- 

 terized : 



Discaria mistrdlis ; calyce 4-fido, segmentis erectis. 



Colletia pubescens. Brongn. in Ann. des Sc. Nat. v. 10. p. 366. 



The n^m^ puhescens is scarcely applicable, for, in general, the stems, branches, 

 and thorns are quite glabrous. The branches are more elongated than in S. 

 aniericana, the thorns rather more distant, the flowers smaller, the stigmas 

 narrower and more erect. In other respects there is the most entire con- 

 formity. Leaves few, small, oblong, entire. 

 Tab. XLV. A. Fxg. 1, Flower. Fig- 2, Section of the same. Fig^ 3, Petal 



and Stamen. Fig. % Petal. Fig. 5, Pistil, with the pateriform fleshy disc 



at the base, removed from the lower part of the calyx, 



t Jusaieu says that the Colletia Ephedra of Ventenat bears the name of Reta- 

 n>lla in Dombey's Herbarium, as the CoUetia spinosa does that of Retama. 



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