36 
ABRONIA UMBELLATA. 
In its general character it approximates G. tomentosum of Labillardiere, but differs in 
several particulars, and when grown well and covered 
with its yellow bloom, it is not easy, from the peculiar 
brightness of the colour, to find a more beautiful object 
for the greenhouse. 
For success in cultivating Gompholobiums, proper 
potting, good drainage, suitable soil, dry air and judicious 
watering, are of the greatest importance. 
For a compost, the usual admixture of equal parts of 
sandy heath-mould, and light loam, with a portion of silver 
sand, is the most suitable. Give abundance of drainage 
with broken crocks or freestone, and do not place the 
plants deep in the pots, or allow the latter to be of too 
large dimensions. 
It is increased by cuttings, which should not be taken 
off until after the plant has shed its flowers, and these 
must not be made from the extremities of the shoots, 
which are too tender to endure actual contact with the 
soil ; but from those parts which have become half-ripe, 
and with sufficient firmness to resist the effects of the 
separation. These should be planted in sharp silver sand, and placed in a gentle bottom- 
heat, covered with a glass. 
Sometimes seeds are produced which should be sown shortly after being gathered; 
these form strong plants in a shorter time than from cuttings. 
ABRONIA UMBELLATA. (Umbelled Abronia.) 
Class, Pentandria. Order, Monogynia. Nat. Order, NyctaginacevE. — - (Nyctagos, Veg. King.) 
Generic Character. — Sepals united into a tube, which 
is contracted in the middle : limb divided into five 
spreading, deciduous, cordate segments. Stamens five, 
liypogynous. Anthers two-celled. Ovary superior, with 
a single erect ovule. Style one, terminal. Stigma one. 
Specific Character Plant a half shrubby perennial, 
with the habit of a Verbena. Stems creeping, glutinous, 
covered with soft hairs, rooting at the joints. Leaves oppo- 
site, ovate, obtuse, succulent, hairy, and glutinous, like 
the stems. Petals long, hairy. Flowers in close umbels, 
fragrant. Peduncles axillary, three inches long, hairy, glu- 
tinous. Tube of flower pale violet ; limb regularly five- 
cleft, lobes spreading, two-parted, purplish rose-colour. 
Authorities and Synonymes Tricratus admirabilis, 
Merit. Abronia, Juss. Abronia umbellata, Lam. III. i. 
469. Lindl. in Journ. Hort. Soc. iv. 81. 
A singularly pretty twining plant, raised from seeds sent from California to the Horti- 
cultural Society, in 1848, by their collector, Mr. Hartweg, who discovered it near the 
sea- shore in Monterey. 
It grows naturally in loose sand, creeping upon the ground, and emitting numerous 
roots from its prostrate stems, which 
being glutinous are often covered 
with the glittering particles of the 
material in which the plant grows. 
Its flowers are produced in great 
abundance from June to October, 
are of a lively colour, very pretty, 
and emit a delicious fragrance, 
especially in the evening. 
It is certainly a good species 
for either bedding out in the 
flower-garden during the summer, 
or growing in a pot and training to 
a trellis. The plant from which 
our drawing was made in September, 
0 
