Dracophyllum
(from drakon, a dragon, and phyllon, a leaf; in reference to the leaves resembling those of Dracoena Draco). Including Sphenotoma. ORD. Epacrideoe. A genus of about twenty-five species of greenhouse shrubs or small trees, of which eleven are from New Zealand, five from New Caledonia, and the rest from extra-tropical Australia. Spikes or racemes terminal, simple, or compound. Leaves imbricate, cucullate at the base, and half-sheathing. For culture, see Andersonia.
D. capitatum (round-headed).* fl. pure white, in terminal heads, very delicate; bracts two, at the base of the calyx; corolla salvershaped; limb of five spreading, very obtuse segments; mouth contracted. Summer. l. ensiform-lanceolate, pungent, dark green, tipped with red and somewhat spreading on the stem; paler-coloured, smaller, and close-pressed upon the branches. h. 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. West Australia. A very pretty plant. (B. M. 3624.) D. gracile (slender).* fl. snow-white, collected in terminal, ovate, compact heads, sweet-scented, especially in the evening; calyx two-bracted, sessile, green, five-leaved; corolla saucer-shaped; limb five-cleft; peduncles clothed with closely-adpressed, erect, sheathing leaves or bracts. June. l. lanceolate, recurved, sheathing the stem at their base, mucronulate and sub-pungent, collected at the extremities of the sterile branches into green globular heads. Branches straggling. West Australia, 1826. A handsome, but low, straggling shrub. (B. M. 2678.) D. secundum (side-flowering). fl. white; corolla tubularly funnel-shaped. April. h. 1ft. to 2ft. New South Wales, 1823. (B. M. 3264.)