28 
THE LADIES’ FLOWER-GARDEN 
4.— BILLARDIERA OVALIS Lindl. THE OVAL-LEAVED BILLARDIERA. 
Engraving. — Bot. Reg,, t. 1719. I oblong, obtuse. Peduncles one-flowered, glabrous, nearly as long as 
Specific Character. — Younger branches pubescent. Leaves linear- j the flowers. Petals straight, and somewhat obtuse. 
Desceiption, &c. — This is a very pretty species, with compact leaves, somewhat like those of the box- tree, and 
rather small greenish flowers, the stamens of which have blue anthers. It is a native of Van Diemen’s Land, and 
is very nearly hardy in this country. Its flowers appear in May, and it is said that before they die off they change 
from a greenish yellow to a dark pm'ple. 
OTHER SPECIES OF BILLARDIERA. 
There are several other species of Billardiera, but as they have not been introduced, it appears doubtful 
whether they belong to this genus or to Sollya. 
GENUS II. 
SOLLYA Lindl. THE SOLLYA. 
Lin. Syst. PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
Generic Character. — Calyx fiv'c-leavcd. Petals five, spreading. Anthers connivent, cohering at the apex. Stigma two-lobed. Pericarp 
two-celled, many-seeded. 
Desceiption, &c. — The species mcluded in this genus have been separated from Billai’diera, from the 
difference in the anthers and in the shape of the flowers. In all the kinds of Billardiera the flower-stalks spring 
from the axils of the leaves ; the flowers themselves are long, and the petals form a tube at then’ base ; the 
stamens are long ; and the anthers far apart from each other. The flower-stallis of the Sollya, on the contrarj’, 
grow opposite to the leaves ; the flowers ai’e bell-shaped, and the stamens short, “ with the anthers adhering in a 
cone round the style, and opening by two pores at their pomts.” The fi’uit was at first supposed to be a dry 
papery carpel, but it is now foimd to be a succulent berry, filled with a soft pulp, in which two rows of seeds are set 
fast : when ripe, the fruit has the resinous smell common to all the plants of the order, but the taste is not quite 
so disagreeable as that of the common Apple-Berry. Only two species of Sollya have been introduced ; and 
though a tim’d has been described, it is supposed by Dr. Lindley to be only a variety of S. heterophylla. The 
genus was named by Dr. Lindley, in honour of Richard Horsman Solly, Esq., F.R.S., &c. 
L— SOLLYA HETEROPHYLLA Lindl. THE COMMON SOLLYA. 
Synonyme. — Billardiera fusiformis Lahill. 
Specific Character. — Leaves ovate-lanceolate ; lower ones ser- 
rated ; upper ones entire ; petioles winged. 
Engravings. — Bot. Reg., t. 1466; Bot. Mag., t. 3S’23; Sweet’s 
Brit. Flow. Gard., 2d ser., t. 232 ; Lodd. Bol. Cab., t. 1975; and our 
fig. 1, in PI. 4. 
Desceiption, &c. — Tliis beautiful little plant, which is now become an universal favourite, was introduced 
about the year 1830, and was at first supposed to be sufficiently hardy to grow in the open air. It is now fomid, 
however, to be more suitable to a greenhouse or conservatory ; and it is also found to be a valuable window or 
balcony plant, as it grows well and flowers freely in a small pot. 
