17 



PIMELEA NIVEA. 



(Snov)y Pimelea.) 



LINNEAN SYSTEM. NATURAL ORDER. 



DIANDRIA MONOGYNIA. THTMELE^E. — (JuSS.) THYMELACE^. — (Lindl.) 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Pimelea (Banks et Solander.) Corolla infundibuliformis, limbo quadrifido, fauce esqua- 

 mata. Calyx nullus. Stamina 2, fauce inserta, laciniis exterioribus opposita. Stylus lateralis. 

 Stigma capitatum. Nux corticata, raro baccata. — Rozmer et Schultes, Syst. Veg. vol. 1. p. 69. 



Corolla funnel-shaped, limb divided into four parts, throat scaleless. Calyx none. Stamens 

 two, inserted in the throat opposite to the exterior divisions. Style lateral. Stigma capitate. 

 Nut coated, rarely a berry. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 



P. nivea ; foliis orbiculatis imbricatis margine recurvis, subtus incano-tomentosis, ramulis 

 albis, floribus capitatis terminalibus, tomentosis. — Brown, Prod. vol. 1. p. 361. 



Descr. — Leaves orbicular imbricate, margin bent back, underneath covered with whitish 

 hairs, branchlets white, flowers in terminal heads, hairy. 



Pimelea nivea. — Brown, 1. c. in litt. 



The stem grows to the height of six feet or more, according to Dr. Brown, 

 by whom the plant has been described, and who, we believe, saw it growing in its 

 native country, when he accompanied Captain Flinders to Terra Australia. The 

 plant from which our drawing was taken is about three feet high, but it is young, 

 being only a seedling of two years' growth. It branches at right angles with 

 the stem, as shown in the miniature figure on the plate, each branch bearing at 

 the end a corymb of delicate pinkish flowers. The leaves are rigid imbricate, 

 the upper surface of which is of a dark shining green, forming a pleasing contrast 

 with the under surface and the hoary branches ; indeed we are not aware that 

 any plant of this genus is more worthy of a place in the green-house than the 

 one we have just described. In its beautifully delicate corymbs, its elegant 

 foliage, its hoary branches, and its singularity of growth, it appears to differ 

 from every other species at present in cultivation. It seems much allied to 

 incana of the same author, but differs from it in the disposition of its leaves, 

 which in incana are described as not imbricate ; the branchlets too are said to 



VOL. I. D 



