DB. MEISNEB OS CHAMJELAUCIE^J. 35 



larly indeed in the forest region, but also in the ravines at lower 

 levels, and even down to the coast on the northern side. 4. The 

 great abundance of two large and conspicuous species of Semper- 

 vivum, especially in the ravines of the north side. 5. The 

 forests of Laurel-like trees ; and 6. The prevalence of Vaccinium 

 padifolium, JEJrica arborea and JBJ. scoparia, not only as under- 

 growth in the forests, but almost entirely covering the upper 

 mountain-region. 



The most remarkable negative characteristics of Madeira botany, 

 as compared with that of Teneriffe, are, the absence of most of the 

 peculiar and striking forms belonging to the coast-region of the 

 latter country, especially of the succulent JEuphorbia, the Kleinia, 

 and the Plocama ; the absence of Pines and Cisti ; and the small 

 number of shrubby Leguminosce. 



On some New Species of Chamcelauciece. By Dr. C. F. Meisneb. 



[Read November 20th, 1855.] 



Among those natural orders or tribes of plants which are parti- 

 cularly characteristic or exclusively peculiar to the Flora of New 

 Holland, the Myrtaceous group established by DeCandolle under 

 the name Chamcelauciece is one of the more remarkable, as well for 

 the numerous and curious modifications of structure it presents, as 

 also for the uncommon elegance and loveliness of its flowers. In 

 the latter respect it is surprising, indeed, that although several of 

 the finest species are not uncommon in the Swan River colony, 

 and long since well-known to botanists, especially through the col- 

 lections made and distributed by Drummond and Preiss, these 

 charming shrubs have not yet found their way to our greenhouses, 

 where they would certainly be admired as a most valuable and 

 highly ornamental acquisition. Whether it be that the seeds of 

 these mono- or oligospermous shrubs are perhaps scarce or difficult 

 to procure, or that the transport of living individuals and their 

 culture offer peculiar difficulties (which however can hardly be 

 supposed, considering their close affinity of structure and similarity 

 of growth with the other New Holland Myrtacese, of which so 

 many are common and perfectly thriving in our greenhouses), or 

 whatever reason there be, I must leave undecided; but the fact is, 

 that, as far as I have been able to ascertain, the only representa- 

 tives of Chamcelauciece introduced until the last year into European 



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