STEPHAXOTIS. 497 



characters of the genus the calyx is of 5 sepals, 2 of which are 

 extended into wings ; corolla 5-cleft, convolute in aestivation. 

 Stamens 10, inserted in the throat of the corolla, alternate ones 

 bearing each 2 anthers. Anthers short. Fruit of a tender texture, 

 1-celled, 1-seeded. The trees are large, with terminal panicles of 

 small, fragrant, yellow flowers. 



H. odorata, Kox., Cor., iii., p. 9, t. 210. A tree of about 80 feet 

 in height ; native of Chittagong. Leaves on short stalks, ovate- 

 oblong, shining, bifarious, waved, smooth, of a deep green on both 

 sides, having often on the under side a rather large single gland 

 in the axils of the large veins. Stipules subulate, falling off at a 

 very early period. Panicles terminal, and from the exterior axils, 

 drooping, composed of alternate, bifarious, secund, recurved, 

 villous ramifications of numerous small, pale yellow, very fragrant 

 flowers. 



Stephanotis. 



The few species of this genus of Asdejnadacece are natives of 

 Madagascar. They are sinistrose climbing shrubs with smooth 

 coriaceous leaves and beautiful white, fragrant, pedicellate flowers 

 in interpetiolar umbels. The calyx is 5-leaved ; the corolla salver- 

 shaped, with a tube somewhat swollen at the base and a limb with 

 5 oblique segments ; the staminal corolla composed of 5 erect, 

 simple, short, acuminate leaves ; the anthers terminated by a mem- 

 brane ; the stigma conical and entire or obscurely 2-lobed ; and the 

 2 follicles thick, horizontal and acuminate, containing many 

 comose seeds. The species preferred is the >S'. floribunda (Bot. 

 Mag., t. 4058). Few white flowers equal this in wax-like purity, 

 gracefulness of form and delicacy of perfume. It is easily propa- 

 gated by means of cuttings made of the young wood, leaving a heel 

 of old wood at the base. The young plants grow freely if planted 

 in good fibrous loam, crocks, and leaf-mould, to which sufficient 

 coarse sandstone grit has been added to keep the w^hole fresh and 

 open. In a compost of this kind, the growth made is short-jointed 

 and robust, and much more floriferous than coarser growth made 

 by plants in well-manured composts. It is much grown as a stove 

 plant in England, but under glass it is very apt to become infested 

 with mealy bug, and, although sending out very long shoots, does 

 not attain the enormous length of plants growing in hot climates, 

 nor do the flowers attain such power of perfume. 



