Dillenia
(named after John James Dillenius, a former Professor of Botany, at Oxford, author of "Historia Muscorum," and "Hortus Elthamensis.") Including Colbertia. ORD. Dilleniaceae. A genus of less than a score species of very beautiful stove evergreen trees, with large flowers; they are only suited to places where plenty of room can be afforded. They thrive in a light sandy loam. Cuttings of half-ripened wood root readily, if inserted in sand, under a glass, in bottom heat. Seeds are sometimes imported, and are usually found to grow without much difficulty.
D. pentagyna (five-carpelled). fl. yellow; petals ovate-oblong, acute; pedicels one-flowered, clustered along the naked branches of the preceding year. March. l. oblong, villous on the nerves beneath. h. 20ft. India, 1803. SYN. Colbertia coromandelina.
D. scabrella (roughish). fl. yellow, fragrant; petals orbicular, or obovate; peduncles in axillary fascicles, each furnished with two opposite bracts, glabrous. l. elliptical, acute, 1ft. long, tapering to the base, pilose on both surfaces, with bristly serratures. Assam and Sylhet, 1820. A spreading tree.
D. speciosa (showy). fl. white, with yellow stamens, 9in. in diameter; peduncles one-flowered. l. very ornamental, elliptical-oblong, simply serrated, 6in. to 1ft. long, bright light green. h. 40ft. East India, 1800. One of the handsomest of Indian trees, whether the beautiful foliage is considered, or the size and structure of the flowers. In this country, however, it is a rather spreading bush. (B. M. 5016.)