PLATE CCLXXXI. 



METROSIDERA HIRSUTA. 



Hai?'y ISIetrofidera. 



CLASS XIL ORDER L 

 ICOSANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Twenty Chives. 



One- Pointal, 



GENERIC 



Calyx. Perianthium monophyllum, quinque- 

 fidum, femiluperura. 



Corolla. Petala quinque, cuncava, fubfef- 

 filia, decidua. 



Stamina longiffima, libera, filifoniiia. Antherae 

 incumbentes. 



PjsTiLLUM. Germen turbinatum, fundo calycis 

 adnatum. Stylus filiformis, ereSus. Stig- 

 ma fimplex. 



Pehicabpium. Capfula cainpanulata, 3 feu 4 

 locularis, 3 feu 4 valvis. 



Semina plurima, rotuiidatoangulata. 



Cup one-leaved, five cleft, half 

 concave, nearly fefllle. 

 Tips 



CHARACTER. 



Empalement. 



above. 

 Blossom. Five petal: 



fallmg off. 

 Chives very long, free, thread-iliaped. 



lying on the threads. 

 Pointal. Seed-bud top-lTiaped, growing to 



the bottom of the cup. Shaft thread-fhaped, 



upright. Summit fimple. 

 Seed-vessel. Capfule bell-fliaped, 3 or 4 celled, 



3 or 4 valved. 

 Seeds many, roundedly-angular. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 



Metrofidera foliis oppofitis, bafi cordatis, am- 

 plexicaulibus ; ramulis, pedunculis, caly- 

 cibufque pilis rubro-fufcis teftis. 



Metrofidera with oppofite leaves, heart-fliaped 

 at the bafe and embracing the ftem; fmall 

 branches, flower-ftems, and flower-cups 

 covered with reddiOi-brown hairs. 



REFERENCE TO THE PLATE. 



1. The Seed-bud and Cup, divefted of the Petals and Chives. 



2. One of the fegments of the Cup, ihcwn from the under fide. 



3. A Chive magnified. 



4. A Seed-bud cut tranlVerfely. 



Although little can be faid in favour of the flowers of this plant, yet the Angularity of its foliage 

 excites our attention, as veiy diflina from all its congeners. It grows with us to the height of fix or 

 feven feet: at which fize, it produces its blolloms. The firft plants were raifed from feeds in the 

 year 178/ at the garden of the late Dr. Pitcairne at Iflington. It is increafed by cuttings, after the 

 ufual mode made ufe of for propagating Botany Bay plants; that is to fay, by placing the cuttings in 

 the heat of a hot-houfe, or hot-bed, early in the month of March, till they are rooted. It is a hardy 

 grcen-houle plant when old, but rather delicate when young. Our figure was began from a plant in 

 the Hibbertian colleftion, which flowered in the month of Augufi;, ISOO; and finiflied from one at 

 the Hammerfmith Nurfery, in November, 1802. A Ihort apology may be thought necefl"ary for our 

 retaining the original mode of terminating the name of this Genus, rather than as it is given by moft 

 authors at present. Our plea is that only of priority, and the name under which the plants have been 

 known, in our gardens, thele 30 years; liiice, indeed. Sir J- Banks's return from the South Seas. A 

 flight mirtake we wifli likewile to notice, in the etymology of the word Metrofideros, as given by 

 Dr. Martyn in his edition of Miller's Diftionary; it is there faid to be thus derived, Mrjlpa., medulla, 

 the heart or pith of a tree, and (noi;rcif iron ; fuppofing the heart of the trees to poffefs the hardnefs, 

 or colour of iron. Now the true idea on which the name of the Genus was founded, is the fliape and 

 hardnefs of the feed-velTel, thus j. Mslfov a meafure» and (tiJij^ oj iron, as the appearance of the capfule, 

 when ripe, will fully juftify. 



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