OF ORNAMENTAL EXOTIC PLANTS. 
1S5 
CHAPTER XXXIX. 
STYLIDEtE R. Brown. 
Essential Character. — Calyx adherent, with from two to six 
divisions, bilabiate or regular, persistent. Corolla monopetalous, 
falling off late ; its limb irregular, rarely regular, with from five to six 
divisions, imbricated in aestivation. Stamens two ; filaments connate 
with the style into a longitudinal column ; anthers twin, sometimes 
simple, lying over the stigma ; pollen globose, simple, sometimes 
angular. Ovary two-celled, many-seeded, sometimes one-celled, in 
consequence of the contraction of the dissepiment ; often surmounted 
with a single gland in front, or two opposite ones. Style one. Stigma 
entire or bifid. Ovules anatropal. Capsule with two valves and two 
cells, the dissepiment between which being sometimes either contracted 
or separable from the indexed margins of the valves, the capsule 
becomes, as it were, one-celled. Seeds small, erect, sometimes stalked, 
attached to the axis of the dissepiment ; embryo scarcely known ; said 
to be minute, inclosed in a fleshy, somewhat oily, albumen. {Lindley.') 
Description, &c. — The plants belonging to this order are mostly natives of New Holland, where they are 
found in marshy ground. Their botanical construction is very curious : the stamens and the style are blended so 
as to form a column, in a cavity at the apex of which is placed the stigma, “ surrounded and concealed by the 
anthers.” The principal genus is Stylidium. 
GENUS I. 
STYLIDIUM Swartz. THE STYLIDIUM. 
Lin. Syst. GYNANDRIA DIANDRIA. 
Generic Character. — Calyx two-parted, bilabiate. Column with a double flexure. Anthers two-lobed ; lohes divaricate. Stigma 
undivided. Capsule two-celled. ((?. Don.) 
Description, &c. — The curious construction of the style and stigma peculiar to the plants of the order is very 
conspicuous in this genus, as the column, which is very slender, and longer than the limb of the corolla, bends 
over it, or, rather, hangs down between its lobes, so as to be very conspicuous ; and if it is touched with a pin, it 
instantly starts from its place to the opposite side of the flower with the greatest rapidity, shrinking from the 
approach of the pin as though it really felt pain. The name of Stylidium is derived from the Greek word stylos, a 
column. There are numerous species, but it will be sufficient to mention one or two of those most common in 
British greenhouses. 
1.— STYLIDIUM GRAMINIFOLIUM Swartz. THE GRASS-LEAVED STYLIDIUM. 
Synonymes. — S. serrulatum Pers.; Ventenatia major Smith-, Can- 
dollea serrulata Labill. 
Engravings. — Bot. Reg., t. 90 ; and our fiy. 4, in PI. 37. 
Specific Character. — Leaves linear, with denticulated edges. 
Raceme subspicate and beset, as well as the scape, with glandular hairs. 
Lip of the corolla appendiculate at the base. 
Description, &c. — This species is remarkable for its slender grass-like leaves, and its being covered in ever}'- 
part with glandular hairs somewhat like those of the Drosera, or Sun-dew. The flowers are of a purplish red, and 
continue nearly all the summer. The plant is a native of both New South Wales and Van Diemen’s Land, whence 
it was introduced in 1803. There is no difficulty in the culture, excepting that it should have as much light and 
air as possible. 
OTHER SPECIES OF STYLIDIUM. 
S. DRUMMONDII Qraliam. 
This species was introduced from the Swan River in 1839. It is very ornamental, the flowers being large, of 
a delicate pale lilac, and disposed in a loose panicle. It generally comes into blossom in November, and as each 
B B 
