1235 



SPERM ADiCT YON* aziireum. 

 Azwe-jlowered Netseed. 



PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 



Nat. ord. Rubiace^. 



SPERMADICTYON. — Suprc), vol. A.fol. 348. 



S. azureum; birsutum, foliis oblongo-lanceolatis acuminatis, floribus pani- 



culatis. 

 Sperniadictyon azureum. Wallich in FL Ind. 2. 225. (1824.) 

 Hamiltonia scabra. Don prodr. FL Nep. 137, (1825.) 

 Sperniadictyon scabrum. Spreng. syst, 4. pars 2. p. 73. 



Speaking of Spermadictyon suaveolens, Dr. Wallich 

 adverts thus to this species : — - 



" I have found a marked variety of this shrub, if not a 

 distinct species, in Nipal, where it grows between Hetounra 

 and Bheempedi, chiefly between Bhinsadoban and the last- 

 mentioned village, forming the most extensive thickets, 

 which are rendered still more beautiful by the snow-white 

 flowers of Poraiia pmiicidata. I have also met with it 

 about the village near Cheeshagurree, and on several 

 mountains in the valley itself : my people have brought it 

 to me from Noakote. It perfumes the air by its delicious 

 fragrance from November until March, during which time 

 it is indescribably beautiful. It differs from suaveolens 

 chiefly in the colour of its flowers, which are azure blue, 

 and in the hairiness of most of its parts. It grows to a 

 shrub of 10 to 12 feet high, well furnished with branches. 

 As the stem gets old, its epidermis becomes smooth and 

 ash-coloured. Branches covered with pale, soft hairiness, 

 widening at the divisions and insertions of the leaves ; while 

 young reddish, very slender. Leaves from 5 to 8 inches 



* So named by Mr. Brown, from c-Tri^fia, a seed, and ^Urvov, a net, with 

 reference to the beautiful net-like arillers with which the seeds are said to 

 be covered. 



