




152 THE LADIES’ FLOWER-GARDEN 
GENUS XV. 
FABRICIA Gerin. THE FABRICIA. 
Lin. Syst. ICOSANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
Generic CuaracTter.—Limb of the calyx five-cleft; lobes valvate. Stamens numerous. Capsule many-celled, adnate to the calyx; cells 
opening at the apex; seeds winged. Flowers on short pedicels. (@. Don.) 
Description, &c.—This is a very small genus, nearly allied to Leptospermum, but differing botanically in the 
capsule. The name of Fabricia was given to the genus in honour of Fabricius, the Danish Entomologist. 
1.—FABRICIA LAVIGATA Gertn. THE SMOOTH FABRICIA. 
Eneravinc.—Bot. Mag., t. 1304. 
Sreciric Cuaracter.—Leaves obovate, alternate, glaucous. Teeth of the calyx triangular. 
Description, &c.—This plant was introduced in 1788, but it is said to have been twenty years in England 
before it showed any symptoms of flowering. A great confusion has arisen between this plant and a species 
called F’. myrtifolia ; the only difference between the two being that the leaves of EF’. myrtifolia are said to be 
silky, and those of the present species to be smooth. It has been found, however, that the leaves of this species 
are silky when the plant is young, though they are perfectly smooth on old plants. The other species that are 
mentioned in books appear to have been lost, as F’. levigata is the only Fabricia known in British greenhouses. 

GENUS XVI. 
BACKIA Lin. THE BACKIA. 
NOOO NE) 
Lin. Syst. DECANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
Generic Cuaracter.—Limb of the calyx four-cleft. Stamens five or ten, shorter than the petals. Capsule from two to five-celled, many- 
seeded, inclosed in the calyx. Flowers pedicellate. (G. Don.) 
Description, &c.—The plants contained in this genus can scarcely be distinguished from those of 
Leptospermum and Fabricia, except by the smallness of their flowers. The genus was named in honour of 
Beck, a Swedish physician, an intimate friend of Linneus. There are several species, some natives of New 
Holland, others of New Caledonia, and one of China; but only one kind is common in British greenhouses. 
1—BACKIA VIRGATA Andr. THE TWIGGY BACKIA. 
Synonymes.—Leptospermum virgatum forst; Melaleuca virgata | Bot. Cab., t. 341. 
Smith. Speciric CuaracTter.—Leayes linear-lanceolate, pellucidly punc- 
Eneravines.—Bot. Mag., t. 2127; Bot. Rep., t. 598; and Lodd. | tated. Peduncles axillary, umbelliferous. 
Description, &c.—A very pretty little plant with white flowers, closely resembling those of the Leptospermum, 
but much smaller. It is a native of Australia, whence it was introduced in 1806. 
TRIBE IJI.—MYRTEA. 
Cuanacter or THE Trise.—Calyx four or five-parted. Petals four or five. Stamens free. Fruit fleshy, baccate, many-celled. (@. Don.) 
Descrietion, &c.—The plants belonging to this tribe are trees and shrubs, mostly natives of the Tropics, and 
which, consequently, require a hothouse in this country. Only two or three of the genera contain greenhouse plants. 




