OF ORNAMENTAL EXOTIC PLANTS. 
27 
I 
GENUS I. 
BILLAEDIERA Smith. THE APPLE-BERRY. 
Lin. Syst. PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
Generic Character. — Calyx of five acuminated sepals. Petals five, with approximate claws, which are somewhat convolute at their edges, 
forming a bell-shaped flower. Berry elliptical, terminated by the style. (<?. Don.') 
Desceiption, &c. — The plants belonging to this genus are climbing shrubs, natives of New Holland and Van 
Diemen’s Land. The flowers are bell-shaped and generally pretty, and the fruit, which is pulpy, would he eatable 
if it were not for its strong resinous flavour, which most persons find very disagreeable. It is very ornamental, 
however, when ripe. All the species thrive best in a conservatory, hut are very nearly hardy. 
1.— BILLARDIERA SCANDENS Smith. THE CLIMBING BILLARDIERA, OR APPLE-BERRY. 
Engraving. — Bot. Mag., t. 801. I Leaves linear-ohlong, entire; pedicels one-flowered, villous, shorter 
Specific Character. — Branches climbing, younger ones villous. than the'flowers. Berries velvety. (O. Don.) 
Description, &€.■ — This was the first species discovered of the genus, and as it was found by Labillardiere, it 
was very appropriately named after him. Dr. Labillardiere was a Frenchman, who sailed as botanist on board one 
of the ships sent to the South Seas in search of the unfortunate M. De La Peyrouse. Though called the Climbing 
Billardiera, it is less disposed to climb than any other of the species. The first colonists in Van Diemen’s Land 
set a high value on the fruit of this plant, which they considered the only kind eatable in the colony, and compared 
it to roasted apple, and hence the plant received its Enghsh name of Apple-Beny. It has, however, like that of all 
the other species of the genus, a strong flavour of turpentine. The flowers are cream-coloured. The species was 
introduced in 1790. 
2.— BILLARDIERA MUTABILIS Salisb. THE CHANGEABLE APPLE-BERRY. 
Engravings. — Bot. Mag., t. 1313 ; and owv fig. 2, in PI. 4. villous. Leaves lanceolate-linear, entire. Peduncles one-flowered. 
Specific Character. — Branches climbing, younger ones rather glabrous, the length of the flower. Berries glabrous. ((?. Don.) 
Description, &c. — ^This is a still more slender-stemmed plant than the preceding species, and the flowers, 
which ai’e larger, are first of a pale greenish yellow, but afterwards become of a rich dark pui’ple. The berries are 
long» green, and perfectly smooth. It is a native of New Plolland, and was introduced in 1795. 
3.— BILLARDIERA LONGIFLORA Lahill. THE BLUE-BERRIED BILLARDIERA. 
Engraving. — Bot. Mag., t. 1507. brous, one-half shorter than the flowers. Berries almost globose un- 
SpEciFic Character.— Branches climbing, younger ones scarcely equal on the surface, glabrous, 
pubescent. Leaves lanceolate, entire. Peduncles one-flowered, gla- 
Description, &c. — This species is perhaps the hardiest of the genus, as it will stand perfectly well in the open 
air against a south wall, and it is very ornamental, from its fruit, which is nearly globular and deeply grooved. It 
is covered with a shining skin, and when ripe is of a fine violet blue. This is, perhaps, the most decidedly a 
climber of all the species, as its long twining shoots take hold of everything within their reach. It flowers from 
July to August, and towards the latter end of that month it begins to ripen its fruit. It is propagated by cuttings 
or by seeds, which it ripens in abundance. It was introduced in 1810. Wlien grown under glass, it does best 
planted in the free ground of a conservatory, and trained up a pillar, where its long pale yellow flowers and very 
ornamental dark blue fruit will be seen to the best advantage. 
E 2 
