z66 Dr. SmithV Beianical CharaSkn offome Plants 



5. METRO SID EROS. Banks. M/s. Gartn. San. t. 34./. & 



Leptofpermum. Forjl. Gen. 36. /. 36./. a— e Gf m— t. 



IcosANDRiA Monogynia^ after Fabricla, 



Char. Gen. Calyx 5-fidus, femifuperus. Peiala 5. Stamina 

 longiffima> exferta. Stigma fimpLex. Capfula 3 vel 4-Iocularis, 



That this is a moft diftlnd natural genus from Leptofpermum, as 

 above definal, there can be no doubt, though fome great botanifts 

 have united them. Sir Jofeph Banks, however, and Dr. Solander, 

 were well aware of their difference, and charafterized Mefrojideros 

 by its very long ftamina. The fligma being fimple and fmall, not 

 capitate nor deprefled, fcarcely dilated, I beg leave to propofe as a 

 very certain and conftant mark of diftinftion. The habit, more- 

 over, is totally different from Leptofpermum^ and agrees with that of 

 Melaleuca; at leaft this is the cafe with fuch fpecies as have alter- 

 nate leaves, and thofe with oppofrte cwies have na refemWance to 

 Leptofpermum. 



The petals are concave, nearly feflrle, deciduous, generally lefs 

 coloured than the flamina. The capfule has mofl: generally three 

 valves, and as many cells, rarely four. I believe it might fafely be 

 defined irilocularis abfolutely, but I have mentioned the number four 

 in deference to Ga;rtner, till I can determine and examine all his 

 fpecies, which are very obfaire* His gummifera is an Eucalyptus, 

 and fome of his others are very doubtful. The fpecies of this 

 genus, defcribed as M'elaleuae by the younger Linnaeus and Dr. G. 

 Forfter, are alfo very much confufed, thefe authors having mu- 

 tually mifunderftood each other fo often, and formed their defini- 

 tK>ns fc loofely, that, with moft of their original named fpecimens 



before 



