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PLATE CCCCLXIV,
D I O S M A OVATA,
Oval-leaved Diosma.
CLASS V. ORDER I.
PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Five Chives. One Pointal.'
E S S E N T I A L GENERIC CHARACTER.
COROLLA 5-petaIa. Nectaria 5 supra germen.
Caps. 3. s, 5, coalltae. Semina tecta.
BLOSSOM. Five petals. Five nectaries above the
seed-bud. Seed-vessels 3 or 5, joined together.
Seeds covered.
DIOSMA ovata, folils alternis, oppositisj odoris,
supra glabris, infra punctatis, patentibus
: floribus plerumque duobus, axillaribus,
in medio ramulorum, albis. Caulis
erectus : ramis simplicibus.
S P E C I F I C CHARACTER.
DIOSMA with oval leaves, alternate, opposite,
and full of scent, smooth above, dotted beneath,
and spreading. Flowers grow mostly
two together from the axillae of the leaves,
about the middle of the branches, and are
white. Stem upright. Branches simple.
R E F E R E N C E TO THE PLATE.
1. The empalement.
2. Seed-buds, honey-cups, chives, and pointal.
3. A petal.
4. A chive magnified,
5. Seed-bud and pointaK
AMONG tlie scented foliage characteristic of so many of the Diosmas the present species is by far the
most powerful, and is the plant called Buku, so much used by the Hottentots, at the Cape of Good
Hope, by way of perfume. They mix it with grease, and anoint themselves with it so profusely that
a stranger can scarcely endure the efHuvia of it. The D. serrata also possesses a similar scent, and is
most likely used occasionally for the same purpose by the natives. Its scent, when rubbed, remains a
long time, and by some is thought very pleasant, by others as disagreeable : a difference of opinion
in general attending all very strong perfumes. The foliage has a very neat appearance, and the
clear white flowers give it a lively aspect. Like several others of the genus, it blooms in winter and
spring. Our figure was made from the Clapham collection.
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