54 



PODALYRIA STYRACIFOLIA. 



pressing the ovarium. Anthers adnate, roundish angular, two-celled, bursting inwardly, longi- 

 tudinally. Pollen oblong, smooth. Style persistent, smooth. Stigma capitate, round, at the 

 base of which is arranged a circle of soft silky hairs. Ovarium sessile, ventricose, densely 

 covered with silky hairs, which, owing to the pressure of the stamens, have the appearance of 

 being arranged in bands. Seeds numerous, reniform, attached to the dorsal suture. 



This is a very handsome plant bearing numerous delicate rose-coloured 

 flowers near to the apex of the branch, and forming a conspicuous ornament in 

 the greenhouse. The flowers are not always solitary as described by Decandolle 

 m his sectional character ; for on the plant from which our drawing was taken 

 there were twin blossoms in several instances. But notwithstanding this 

 deviation, it is evidently nothing more than P. styracifolia. It is a native of the 

 Cape of Good Hope, and was introduced about the year 1792. 



Cultivation. — This plant requires a greenhouse, and is of easy culture. It 

 ought to be frequently stopped when in a young state, so as to cause it to become 

 bushy. 



The soil should be loam, peat, and sand. It may be increased by cuttings 

 and by seeds. 



This is exclusively an African genus, of which all the species hitherto known, 

 (and which amount to about fourteen,) are inhabitants of the Cape of Good 

 Hope. They are not remarkable for the possession of medicinal or any other 

 important properties. 



The generic name Podalyria is from Podalirius, a son of /Eseulapius ; the 

 specific name styracifolia refers to the general appearance of the leaves, which 

 very much resemble those of the plant which yields the gum storax. 



Fig. 1, the stamens persistent, attached to the calyx ; 2, shows the attach- 

 ment of the seeds to the dorsal suture of the legume ; 3, exterior view of the 

 legume, showing the rows of silky hairs. 



