970 
LESSERTIA fruticosa. 
Shrubby Lessertia. 
—_}>———- " 
DIADELPHIA DECANDRLIA. 
Nat. ord. Lrcuminosm. Tribus Lote Decandolle. 
LESSERTIA Dec.—Calyx semiquinquefidus. Vewillum explanatum. 
Carina obtusa. Stamina diadelpha, 9-1. Stigma capitatum. Stylus antice 
barba transvers& apicis, posticé imberbis. Legumen scariosum, indehiscens, 
compressum aut inflatum, latere superiore breviore. Herbee, varius Suf- 
frutices Capenses. Folia impari-pinnata. Pedunculi azillares. Flores 
racemosi, purpuret, nutantes. Dec. prodr. 2.271. ~ rt 
L. Jruiicosa ; foliis linearibus obtusis 5-G-jugis, caule petiolis pedunculis 
calycibusque pilosis, racemis erectis dissitifloris foliis pauld longioribus, 
leguminibus oblongis sessilibus 4-spermis. 
We are acquainted with this plant only by the accom- 
panying figure, which was made some years ago at Mr. 
Colvyill’s Nursery, where it was at that time cultivated 
under the name here adopted. We do not find any pub- 
lished species to which it is referable. 
A native of the Cape of Good Hope. 
In the Botanical Appendix by Mr. Brown to Major 
Denham’s travels in Africa, which has just appeared, we 
notice a curious observation upon the distinctions between 
Leguminose and Rosacez. 
“‘ No clear character,” Mr..Brown observes, “‘ is pointed 
out in the late elaborate work of M. de Candolle, by which 
Leguminose may be distinguished from Terebintacee and 
Rosacez, the orders supposed to be most nearly related to 
it. Itis possible, however, that such characters, though 
hitherto overlooked, may really exist; and I shall endea- 
vour to shew that Leguminose, independent of the im- 
portant but minute differences in the original structure and 
developement of its ovulum, may still be distinguished, at 
least, from Rosacee.” 
VOL. XII. / D 
