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BRUNONIA AUSTRALIS. 
(southern BRUNONIA.) 
CLASS. ORDER. 
PENTANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. 
NATURAL ORDER. 
BRUNONIACE^. 
Generic Character. — Head of flowers surrounded by an involucre. Calyx five-parted, with four 
bracts. Corolla monopetalous, funnel-shaped ; limb five-parted, two superior lobes more deeply- 
divided. Stamens five, hypogynous. Anthers connate. Ovary one-seeded. Stigma with a two- 
valved indusium. Utricle included in the more hardened tube of the calyx, spreading out on the 
top of the plumose lobes. Seed without albumen. 
Specific Character. — Plant perennial, herbaceous. Leaves radical, somewhat spatnlate, acute, villous 
on both sides with short spreading hairs. Flower-stem roundish, about a foot high, crowned with a 
solitary head of flowers* Calyx with longitudinally plumose lobes. Flowers bright blue. 
The genus Brunonia was established by Sir J. E. Smith in honour of Hobert 
Brown, Esq., D.C.L. &c., the ilkistrious investigator of botanical affinities, and 
justly pronounced by Dr. Lindley " the most learned systematic botanist of this 
or any other age." It gives the name to a very small order in the Natural System, 
and has both apparently and actually a close relation to the Scabious tribe. No 
new species have been added to it since it was founded ; and it remains an isolated 
but worthy indication of the object for which its name was applied. 
Although introduced in 1834, and in all respects a most interesting little plant, 
it is not yet known in the majority of places ; — an inference which we feel autho- 
rised to make from its not being ordinarily cultivated. The extreme neatness and 
prettiness of its habits, the simple beauty as well as vivid blue colour of its 
blossoms, their liberal production, and the ease with which the species is grown, 
all present claims on the culturist's attention ; and those who, from their united 
influence, determine to procure, and to treat it with common care, will not regret 
either its cost, or the trifling trouble it requires. 
While walking through Mr. Low's nursery, of Clapton, in the month of July 
last, our interest in this pleasing plant was warmly excited by some specimens that 
were then flowering in the greenhouse. It bears a strong resemblance to the 
