275. PiMELEA MACROCEPHALA, Hooker. A stiff glaucous greenlioiise slirub, with large nodding 
heads of cream-coloured flowers. Native of Swan River. Belongs to Daphnads. Introduced by 
Lucombe & Co, (Fig. 140.) 
One of the many Swan River plants raised from seeds received 
from Mr. Drummond. Perhaps its nearest affinity is with P, tinc- 
toria Meisn., though the leaves do not change to the very peculiar 
green described as characteristic of that species, and it wants 
several other distinguishing marks. It is a highly interesting 
addition to our greenhouse plants, easy of culture, and free to 
r 
blossom in the summer months. Shrub two to three feet high, 
somewhat simple, or fastigiatelybi'anched ; bi^anches erect, smooth, 
rather robust (for a Pimelea), reddish below, green above, terete, 
leafy up to the involucre. Leaves opposite, smooth, the upper 
ones, especially, erect and secund, all of them large for the genus, 
and thick, rather leathery, broad-lanceolate, glaucous, acute, sessile; 
lower ones more spreading. Involucre of four to six leaves, 
larger and broader than the stem ones, shorter than the flower- 
head. This latter is two inches and a half across. Flowers 
numerous, dense, very pale rose (cream) colour. Calyx-tube 
slender, long, downy, articulated on the truncated summit of the 
the segments oblong, spreading or recurved, ciliated at 
Stamens and style much exserted. Anthers 
ovary , 
the margins. 
orange. 
Australian 
^r ^^ ^uf \^ V J 
now numbering above fifty described species. The greater number 
are natives of Van Diemen's Land and the extra-tropical coasts of 
Australia, many being found at Swan River and at King George's 
Sound on the south-west coast : a few extend northward to within 
the tropics, and several are natives of New Zealand. About twenty 
species are known to have been introduced into the gardens of this 
country. The first was P. linifolia in 1 793, followed by P. rosea 
in 1800; between the latter year and 1823, P. drupacea and 
P pauc!fl<^-a were mtroduced : the first two, being pretty flowering species, were frequent inmates in the greenhouse. 
^diereas the two latter, having inconspicuous flowers, were seldom seen, except in collections where rarity ^d number 
of spec.es were desired. In 1823 we were so fortunate as to raise plants of P. decussata, which, on account of its being of 
neat habit and a free and showy flowering species, soon became a favourite with cultivators, but has of late been in some 
measure superseded by its more showy rival, P. spectaMUs, which was introduced about ten yeax^ ago. The species now 
figured IS of recent introduction, and, from what we know of it, will turn out to be another showy Species. It is, like ite 
S.d S^!.^^^«"^7"«''.^'^<^f -- -g--% if planted in turfy peat-soil, containing a little loTm,lnd kept sufficiently 
1? 1 ?r -"f "°S '8 undesirable, especially during dull damp weather in winter and spring ; and in hot weath^ 
the sides o the pot must not be exposed to the direct rays of the sun. It will propagate by cuttlnjs placeS ui^Lr a heU 
gla^s and treated m the usual way, but it has been found to produce the best plante if grafted on sto ks of P. dec^sata." 
276. loNOPSis TEXEEA. Zindlt 
■iy 
A very pretty stove Orcliid from the West Indies, with 
panicles of delicate white or pale lilac flowers. {Kg. 141, a, a diminished figure ; i, flowers little 
more than natural size j c, hp magnified.) 
1 ,I^n I'"' '°- ^^'^T™ ?°" *"'"' '° ""^"^ P""*" *^^ '''" ^^^* I"*^'*^«- It ^-^^ fi'^t brought to notice by Sir Cliarles 
U . 1 .. ' produced I at a meeting of the Horticultural Society last December ; having obtained it from Jamaica 
also occurs among Mr Linden's dried plants. No. 484, from the Caraccas, where it was found by Fruck and^hTm 
s;t:f 'br^n^lti:;^^^^^^^^^^ - mo^e than a large-Upped variety of /, v^HculaHoides, . ,L .:)::' l!:Xl 
agnt 01 , but, until that can be certamly ascertained, the name should not be disturbed. If it shall turn out tbnt tli^l 
in all ,he» plant' At L" f^lTT "^ 'Tt ' T'j"" '"' S"™' "" "^ *" ^«*'° "" ««' '^^ °f '^'o % 
, u me uuacca., nz. . two .mail jelloar cars stand at the very narrow ronnaed base of tile lip j 
4t* 
