Brexia
(from brexis, rain; the large leaves afford protection against rain). ORD. Saxifrageae. Excellent stove trees. Flowers green, in axillary umbels, surrounded by bracts on the outside. Leaves alternate, simple, dotless, and furnished with minute stipules. Stems nearly simple. They require a compost of two parts loam and one of peat, with the addition of a little sand, to keep the whole open. A liberal supply of water must be given at all seasons. Cuttings, with their leaves not shortened, strike readily in sand under a hand glass, in heat; or a leaf taken off with a bud attached will grow. Leaves as in accompanying illustration (Fig. 277), and long, narrow, spiny-toothed ones, are often produced on the same plant. Probably the two species enumerated below are simply forms of one. Well hardened off, strong growing plants of B. madagas-cariensis are very suitable for sub-tropical gardening. B. madagascariensis (Madagascar).* l. obovate or oblong, entire, while young minutely gland-toothed. h. 20ft. Madagascar, 1812.
B. spinosa (spiny). l. lanceolate, 20in. long, 2in. broad, spinytoothed. h. 20ft. Madagascar, 1820.