Drummondiane. N. O. Gentianee. 
TAB. DCCXXV. 
VILLARSIA INVOLUCRATA. Hook. 
Erecta ramosa, caule folioso, foliis cordato-rotundatis obtusis 
sublonge petiolatis, petiolis basi vaginantibus, pedunculis 
axillaribus terminalibusque monocephalis, capitulis involu- 
cratis bracteatisque, involucri foliolis 2 ovatis acutis concavis, 
floribus sessilibus, calycis 5-lobi tubo piloso ovario semi- 
adnato laciniis ovato-acuminatis, corolle infundibuliformi- 
rotate intus pilose laciniis ovatis acutis. 
Has. Swan River, Western Australia. James Drummond, n. 7, 
1845. 
This is probably a native of marshy ground, and, at first 
sight, has more the habit of Ranunculus than of any Gentianeous 
plant. It seems, however, to be atrue Villarsia; though a species 
very unlike any that has been hitherto described, and remark- 
able for its flowers being sessile, and collected into rounded, 
bracteated, and involucrated, pedunculated heads or capitula. 
The leaves, rather long and on petioles sheathing at the base, are 
nearly orbicular, approaching to cordate. ach flower is rather 
small, apparently yellow; the calyx has a pilose or villose 
tube, of which the lower half is adnate with the ovary; the 
hairs very long; limb 5-lobed, the lobes ovato-acuminate, about 
the length of the corolla. Corolla hairy at the throat. Stamens 5, 
exserted. Style much longer than the stamens. Stigma bifid. 
Fig. 1. Head of flowers and involucre. Jf. 2. Single flower. 
Sf. 3. Corolla (and base of the calyx-tube) with stamens and 
pistil, 4. Pistil. £5. Section of the ovary :—magnified. 
