98 SOLLYA LINEARIS. 



named is the S. Drummondii, with very small leaves and flowers, much inferior in 

 interest to those of the other species. 



The Sollyas are usually treated as greenhouse plants, where they thrive with but 

 little attention, and upon the window they will flourish quite as well as in the 

 greenhouse. They are, however, so nearly hardy, that wherever a south wall can be 

 afforded them, they will grow to much greater height than in pots, and produce a 

 profusion of flowers. In the south of England, and also in Ireland, the S. hetero- 

 phylla has been known to live for several years with very little protection. They 

 would not, however, resist severe frost, unless well matted up ; and even in mild 

 winters, we would advise the same precaution. When the plants are left out-doors, 

 it will be prudent to strike a cutting in early autumn, and preserve from frost. As 

 they are of rapid growth, the loss of a specimen can be easily replaced. The soil 

 best suited to them is a mixture of peat and loam ; some cultivators dispense with 

 the peat. 



When grown as window plants, they require a rather large pot, and plenty of 

 water during the summer. The plants generally throw up shoots from their base, 

 the first three or four joints of which, if taken off when a little ripened, will readily 

 root under a small bell glass or tumbler, and produce flowers the following season. 

 Seeds are produced freely by all the species, and they may, therefore, be readily 

 increased by this means. 



The structure of the flowers of the Sollyas offers nothing very remarkable, 

 the sepals, petals, and stamens all being five in number; and the last named 

 organs adhere so strongly by their anthers, that they may often be detached 

 together from the flower. This circumstance does not appeal' to have been referred 

 to by any Botanical writers whose works have fallen under our notice. 



The long seed pods, a group of which is represented in our plate, are remarkable 

 for hanging upon the plant at least a year before they are ripe, so that the fruit of 

 the previous year is generally seen in company with the flowers of the current 

 season. The seeds are surrounded by a resinous pulp, as in most other plants of 

 the order Pittosporacece, of which the Pittosporums are the type ; and from which 

 circumstance the name of that genus is derived ; from pitto, resin, and sporum, 

 a seed. 



The Sollyas are sometimes classed with the Billardieras, plants belonging to the 

 same order, but which appear to be distinct. 



