07 - 08.pdf - University of Georgia

C 260 3
METROSIDEROS CITRINA. HARSH-LEAV'D
METROSIDEROS.
Clafs and Order.
ICOSANDRIA MONOGYNIA.
Generic Character.
Cal. s-dentatus, finu germen fovens. Petal* & caduca. Stm.
difcreta, petalis multoties longiora. Caff. 3-4 locularis, po-
lyfperma. Banks. Gcertner.
Specific Character and Synonyms.
METROSIDEROS citrinafoliis lineari-lanceolatis rigentibus.
Though many fpecies of this genus have been raifed from
feeds brought within thefe few years from the South Seas,
where they are faid to be very numerous ; this is, we believe,
the only one that as yet has flowered in this country: our
drawing was made from a plant which bloflbmed toward the
clofe of laft fummer at Lord CREMORNES, the root of which
had been fent from Botany-Bay ; previous to this period we
have been informed, that the fame fpecies flowered both at
Kew and Sion-Houfe : as it is without difficulty raifed both
from feeds and cuttings, young plants of it are to be feen in
moft of the Nurferies near town ; it would feem that they do
not flower till they are at leaft five or fix years old.
Metrofideros is a name given originally by RUMPHIUS in his
Herb Amboin to fome plants of this genus, the term applies to
the hardnefs of their wood, which by the Dutch is called
Yzerhout(Ironwood): FORSTER m his Gen. PL figures this
and another genus on the fame plate, under the name ofLepto-
fpermum; SCHREBER in Ws edition of the - Gen. PI. of LIN-
K*US, unites Metroftderos, Melaleuca, Uptofpermum, and/aW
cia, under the genus Melaleuca , GCERTNER in his elaboraK
work on the feeds of plants, makes feparate genera of theie,
Ireeably to the ideas of Sir JOSEPH BANKS and Mr . D*£
ANDER, who on this fubjeQ can certainly boaft the beft in
without tranfgreffing the allotted limits of our
letter-prefs, give a minute defcription of the plant hgure?'
fuffice it to fay, that it is an ever-green fhrub, growing to
height of from four to fix or more feet, that its leaves on tn
Id wood feel very harih or rigid to the touch, and wnc
bruifed give forth 'an agreeable fragrance, the flowers grow
fpikes on the tops of the branches, and owe their beauty \vno /
to the brilliant colour of the filaments;
J'nJ, if W. r,,,-/i.t t'^Crn: Cirlfrnf ,3tpn I.