CHAP, i.l PITTOSPORE^. 287 



ORDER XXIV. PITTOSPORE^E.— THE PITTOSPORUM 

 TRIBE. 



The principal genera included in this order 

 are Pittosporum, Billardiera and Sollya, all 

 resinous shrubs, with alternate leaves without 

 stipules, and the sepals and petals, each five in 

 number, and laid over each other like scales in 

 the bud. The seeds are numerous, and im- 

 mersed in fibrous pulp. The commonest species 

 of Pittosporum is P. Tohira^ a native of China, 

 easily known by its thick leathery leaves, the 

 mid-ribs of which are strongly marked, and 

 whitish. The flowers are erect, and produced 

 in cymes or heads ; and the petals are united 

 into a tube with a spreading limb. The capsule 

 is one- celled, and two or three valved, with an 

 imperfect dissepiment in the centre of each 

 valve ; and the seeds are numerous, and buried 

 in a resinous fibrous pulp. The Billardieras are 

 generally climbing shrubs, with pale greenish 

 bell-shaped, and almost erect flowers, which are 

 produced singly or in pairs, and which have the 

 tips of their petals turned back. The fruit is 

 a fleshy berry, with a shining skin of a deep 

 blue, and it is called the Apple Berry in 

 Australia, of which country the species are 

 natives. This fruit is said to be eaten in 

 Australia,, but it seems difficult to imasrine how 



