Tab. 14. 
Lambertiane. 
ASTRAPHA WALLICHII 
Nar. Orv. Malvacee, Juss. | Linn. Syst. Monadelphia Polyandrn. 
RAPAIA Flores umbellati, involucrati. Involucrum duplex, exterius 2-phyllum, interius polyphyllum. Cal. 
AST lex, 5 aly llte ] Pcectaa Pet. 5. convoluto-clausa. Stam. 25, in tubo corollifero connata, quorum 5 ste- 
simplex, 5- 5 l- », 
| ¢ 
rilia, Ovar. 5-loculare, oligospermum. Stylus I. Stigmata 9. 
Astrapeea Wallichii. 2. — 2 
Pentapetes speciosa. Wallich in Litt. 
: : ea yi : ia. rns -biculata, cordata, acuminata, crenato- 
Descr. Arbor magna. ami crassi, teretes, tomentosi. Folia grandia, alterna, suborbicult a, ea LG é 
ta, plana, supra pubescentia, subtis tomentosa, marginibus sinus basilaris imbricatis ; nervi 5 a basi radiati; vena concen- 
serrata, p ; ) Hanite a2 ok 
: eyes ery . "ES uate, tomentose#, medio crass@#, uninerves, 
trice. Petioli 3-unciales, teretes, pilosi; stepui@ magne, ovate, appresse, seem m or &, eae ee gen 
es ‘ . an ‘ati i hirsuti. Involucrum duplex, exterius 2-phyl- 
Flores in capitulis axillaribus, longe pedunculatis umbellati, involucrati. Peduncu thirsutt,- = we ei i ae E i 
Al ni -ovatis inatis, pilosis, v s rioribus sensim m se - 
lum, interius polyphyllum, foliolis magnis, subrotundo-ovatis, acuminatis, pilosis, VII TE inte ¥ s { 
gustioribus Flores densi, circiter centum in quovis involucro, pedicellati, coccinei. Calyx simplex, pentaphyllus, villosus, 
- . . A e . K ¢ . ate - 
en F . 4 br sibus tal 1ga, rotundata, convoluto- 
bracted lanceolata subtensus ; foliolis linearibus, obtusis, erectis, corolla brevioribus. Petala 5, oblor gi ) ; : ay 3 
: ; . . “72 > 8 > 7 S f . »> s ao 
clausa. Stamina in tubo longo, cylindraceo, corollifero connata, corolle longitudine. Anthera fertiles 20, steriles 5 ; he subu 
: . ir = "e: i dispermi; ovula horizontalia, 
late, ille oblonge, 2-loculares, apiculate. Ovarium superum, hirsutum, 5 loculare ; loculi dispermi ; alle 
i 5 e ‘ “ sot or 5 
Stylus filiformis, exsertus, versus basin hirsutus. Stigmata 5 
/ 
ee eS LT 
Specimens of this most splendid plant in excellent preservation were sent from the East Indies by Dr. Wallich, to 
A. B. Lambert, Esq. under the name we have quoted above. From one of these our drawing has been taken. It 
appears to form a tree, like many others of the same showy family. Its heads of flowers are produced in such abun- 
dance from among the ample foliage, that we think, if Raflesta be excepted, it must be one of the most superb plants 
in the world. Malvacee usually afford their seeds very readily, so that no difficulty need be anticipated in obtaining 
the plant. We hope soon to see it ornamenting our hothouses as commonly as the beautifuland once highly prized 
Hibiscus Rosa Sinensis. 
We have already observed that Dr. Wallich referred the subject of this article to Pentapetes. Ina subsequent 
communication he has transferred it to Dombeya. 'To us it seems to differ much more from those two genera than 
they do from each other, not only in general appearance, but in technical characters. Not to mention the great 
double involucrum of Astrapea, which is at least of as much importance as the bractex, or outer calyx as they usu- 
ally are termed, of many genera of this order, Dombeya and Pentapetes have an outer calyx of three 
Astrapeéa has none, but in its room one large bractea which subtends the calyx properly so called ; Dombeya and 
Pentapetes have an almost expanded corolla ; Astrapea has its petals rolled together like Achania. There is a dif- 
ference too in the number of stamens ; but this perhaps is not of so much consequence as the great length of their 
tube, as compared with the shallow cup of Pentapetes and Dombeya. 'The same observations are applicable to Pte- 
rospermum (the Pentapetes of Jussieu) ; but that has neither bractea, nor outer calyx ; 
its whole habit very different. Whether the seeds of Astrapea 
except from the ovula, which exhibit no trace of any appendage. 
thin, rather than of a woody texture. 
leaves ; 
its flowers are solitary, and 
are winged or not we have no means of judging, 
The ovarium appears to be that of a capsule of a 
EXPLANATION oF THE PLaArs. 
1, Flower. 2. Bractea pulled off. 3. Tube of the stamens 
; : , as seen when the petals are removed. 4. Anthers. 5. Ovarium. 
6. Vertical section of the same. 
\ 
