




92 THE LADIES’ FLOWER-GARDEN 
The species was introduced in 1824. The plant has a very singular appearance, from its immense masses of 
flowers, which are crowded together as densely as possible, and contrast strongly with the slenderness and fewness 
of its leaves. 
O. OBOVATUM Pazt. 
The flowers of this species, though equally crowded with those of the other kinds which have been described, 
are smaller and less numerous; they are also of a darker colour. The leaves, however, are very curious, being 
obeordate, and the midrib terminating in a sharp point. 
O. CAPITATUM Lindl. 
This plant is so very different from the other species of the genus, that it really does not seem to belong to it. 
It has slender and needle-shaped leaves, and a small head of yellow flowers at the end of each shoot. It was 
introduced in 1841. 
GENUS VIII. 
CALLISTACHYS Vent. THE CALLISTACHYS. 
Lin. Syst. DECANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
Generic Cnaracter.—Calyx bilabiate; upper lip bifid; lower | incurved. Stigma simple, acute. Legume stipitate, woody, dehiscent 
one three-parted. Vexillum erect, longer than the keel and wings, | at the apex; young ones many-celled, but with the transverse dissepi- 
which are about equal in length. Stamens inserted in the disk. Style | ments at length vanishing, (G@. Don.) 
Description, &c.—Very elegant shrubs, all natives of Australia, with entire leaves, silky on the under 
surface, and with long terminal racemes of very ornamental yellow flowers. There are several species, which 
differ chiefly in the shape of the leaves. The name of Callistachys is from two Greek words, signifying a beautiful 
spike, in allusion to the flowers. 
GENUS IX. 
BRACHYSEMA R. Brown. THE BRACHYSEMA. 
Lin. Syst. DECANDRIA MONOGYNTA. 
Generic Cuaracter.—Calyx five-cleft, a little unequal, with a | girded by a little sheath at the base. Style filiform, elongated. 
ventricose tube. Vexillum shorter than the wings and keel, which Legume ventricose, many-seeded. (G. Don.) 
are compressed and about equal in length. Ovary with its pedicel 
Duscription, &c.—There are only two species in this genus, which takes its name from two Greek words, 
signifying a short standard, the standard of the flower being remarkably short. 

1.—BRACHYSEMA LATIFOLIUM R. Brown. THE BROAD-LEAVED BRACHYSEMA. 
Eneravincs.—Bot. Mag., t. 2008 ; Bot. Reg., t. 118; and our jig. 2, in Pl. 23. 
Sprciric Cuaracter.—Leayes ovate, flat. Vexillum oblong, obovate. 
Description, &c.—This is a climbing or procumbent shrub, according to the circumstances in which it is 
placed ; as though it is procumbent in its native country, it appears to grow most vigorously, and to flower most 
freely, when it is trained up a stick. The leaves are of a bluish-green, and quite silky beneath. The flowers are 
of a brilliant scarlet, and they are remarkable from the standard, which is usually the largest part, being the 
smallest. The species is a native of the south-west coast of New Holland, and it was introduced in 1808. It 
flowers from April till July, and requires a greenhouse all the year. 




