VOL. XXX.VUI.J PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 633 



near the top. The distances of the stories of the branches are a little unequal; 

 but where they are widest, they do not exceed the length of the greatest leaves, 

 that is, 8 or 9 inches. 



The twigs grow on the branches in the same order as those do on the stem, 

 that is, opposite to each other. The longest are commonly of the length from 

 one's hand to the elbow. The greater twigs grow out to a certain distance from 

 the stem ; and tiie others, which garnish the rest of the branches, always grow 

 less and less towards their extremity. 



The branches and twigs never divide themselves. 



The leaves are large, entire, beautiful, smooth, of a shining green on the 

 upper side, and of an olive colour on the back, pointed at their extremities. 

 The rib, which divides its extent into two equal parts, is straight, and equally 

 prominent on both sides. From the sides of this rib there issue forth fibres 

 prettv small, and almost by pairs, which extend themselves in parallels, and 

 bend a httle archwise quite to the edge of the leaf, where they unite themselves 

 into a thread, which forms there a kind of margin. The meshes, or filaments 

 of the net, are not very perceptible. The size of these leaves varies ; the 

 largest are 8 or 9 inches long, but commonly 7. The breadth of each leaf is 

 near equal to half its length, which proportion is always the same in every leaf. 

 Their pedicles are thick, short, and wrinkled, flat on the inside, and raised in 

 the shape of an ass's back on the outside, most frequently half an inch long. 

 They come out near and on the extremities of the twigs, opposite to each 

 other, like the branches themselves. There appear seldom above two pairs of 

 leaves on each twig ; and those that shoot out last, always make up the extre- 

 mity of that twig. 



The flower is 2 inches in diameter, pretty much like a single rose. It is 

 composed of 4 petala, almost round, or a little pointed, about an inch broad, 

 very thick, firm, fleshy, brittle, and somewhat hollowed into the shape of a 

 spoon. Their greatest thickness is near their basis, of above a line, which de- 

 creases gradually towards the extremity. They entirely resemble the petal of a 

 rose; except that instead of being indented like a heart, they end gradually in 

 roundish points. Their colour is also like that of a rose, except that it is 

 deeper and less lively. The basis, which is the thickest and firmest part of it, 

 is the whitest, and the most brittle. 



The pistil, or ovary, is a round or almost cylindrical body, 5 lines thick, 

 raised to the height of 4. The upper part of this pistil, viz. its tube, is cut in 

 the shape of a small rose, covering the ovary like a cap. The diameter of this 

 cap is of an equal breadth with the ovary, which it covers entirely, sticking- 



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