478 Dr. SmithV Botanical CharaSiers offotne Plants 



* * Foliis oppofith. 



g. M. linariifolia, foliis oppofitis lineari-lanceolatis trinerviis 

 fubtus multipunftatis, ramulis floriferis terminalibus 

 laxis, filamentis pinnatis. 



This, we are told by Mr. White, is a large tree, the bark of which 

 is very thick and fpongy, ferving the purpofe of tinder. The 

 branches are clothed with tapering glaucous leaves, thrice as long 

 as in the laft fpecies, and from the fummits fpring feveral young 

 branches, fet with a feries of oppofite feffile folitary white flowers, 

 (not, as in that, in pairs ranged alternately), beyond which the 

 branch is foon protruded. The mod eflential chara<Sler however 

 of this fpecies confifts in the filaments, which are very long, being 

 pinnated, or ranged with ftamina on each fide, more or lefs regu- 

 larly, from near the bafe to the fummit. The leaves have a nut- 

 mes-like flavour. 



■•!:> 



10. M. thymifol'ia, foliis oppofitis elliptico-lanceolatis enerviis, 

 ramulis floriferis lateralibus breviflfimis paucifloris, fila- 

 mentis medium ufque ramofis. 



Mr. Fairbairn has prefented flowering fpecimens of this fpecies 

 to the Linnsean Society from Chelfea garden. The flowers are 

 purple, ranged along the branches of a year or two old, in little 

 Ihort oppofite fpikes ; which however foon prove to be real 

 branches by the leaves (hooting out at their ends, this lateral mode 

 of inflorefcence being common to almoft the whole genus, M. lau- 

 rina zndifuaveolens only havihg axillary branching flower-ftalks, nor 

 have I yet feen a Melaleuca with terminal flowers. 



The 



