Page:Miscellaneousbot02brow.djvu/205

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ON THE PROTEACE^E OP JUSSIEU. 189

semunciales, semiteretes, cum rachi teretiuscula articulati. Spica terminalis, pedunculata, erecta, folio brevior, pedim- culo longior, racemosa ; Pedunculo rachique teretibus, pube brevissima cinereo-ferrugineis (in sicco). Pedicelli gemi- nati, teretes, calyce breviores. Calyx tetraphyllus. Foliola ante expansionem in tubum curvatum cylindraceum clausum utrinque ampliatum cohserentia, mox ad basin distincta, decidua, linearis, extiis pube tenuissima arete appressa (in sicco) cinereo-ferruginea ; intus glabra : Unguibus Hnearibus, basi dilatatis : Laminis ovatis, acutis, concavis. Stamina 4. Filamenta brevissima, basi laminarum imposita. Antherarum lobi (connectivo) adnati, distincti, basi pariim divergentes,- longitudinaliter dehiscentes. Pollen flavum. Ovarium breve pedicellatum, parvum, uniloculare, dispermum, ovulis collateralibus : Pedicello basi cincto Squama lata, glabra, adnata, (in sicco) corrugata, postice subdeficiente, intersticia angustissima. Stylus cylinclraceus, crassiusculus, glaber, longitucline unguium calycis. Stigma obliquura, convexum, stylo crassius, papilla centrali.

Obs. Singularis, Foliis vere compositis, petiolellis cum [22 rachi articulatis ; et Squama bypogyna pedicello ovarii adnata, nee ipso receptaculo connexa.

Oritina acicularis. dpjiend. Flor. Nov. Holl. ined.

This is a perfectly smooth erect shrub ; with alternate cylindrical leaves, furrowed on the upper surface and termi- nated by a pungent mucro. I observed it only on the summit of the Table Mountain, at the southern extremity of Van Diemen's Island. The perfect flowers I have not seen, but have examined the ovarium so soon after fcecunda- tion, that I have no doubt of its containing originally only two ovula ; and as its base is surrounded by four glands, the calyx is probably regular. Hence its near affinity to Orites, with which it also agrees in inflorescence and appa- rently in stigma. The fruit is a smooth compressed coria- ceous follicule, containing two seeds, which are winged at both ends; on which account I have not absolutely referred it to Orites, but, until its flowers are discovered, have given it a temporary name, indicating its affinity to that genus.

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