Gomphia
(from gomphos, a club; in reference to the shape of the fruit). Button Flower. ORD. Ochnaceae. A genus comprising about eighty species of stove evergreen trees or shrubs, of which the majority are natives of South America, a few from Africa, and a very few from Asia. Flowers yellow, in terminal racemes or panicles; sepals five, coloured, imbricated; petals five, generally clawed. Leaves alternate, persistent, simple, coriaceous, shining, serrate. Gomphias thrive with similar treatment to that usually given to hard-wooded stove shrubs. A compost of two parts fibrous loam and the remainder of peat, with a small quantity of silver sand, suits them best. Propagated by cuttings of rather firm young shoots, inserted in sand, under a bell glass, in heat. The undermentioned are probably the only species now in cultivation. G. decorans (adorned). A synonym of G. olivaeformis. G. olivaeformis (Olive-formed).* fl. rich bright yellow, densely produced in large terminal branching racemes. May. l. shining dark green, alternate, broadly-lanceolate, 5in. long; margins serrulate. h. 10ft. to 15ft. Brazil, 1868. SYN. G. decorans (B. M. 5262.) G. Theophrasta (Theophrasta-like). fl. golden-yellow, densely produced in much-branched panicles, nearly 1ft. long. May. l. elongate, ovate-lanceolate, serrulate, 1ft. long, shortly stalked. South America. (B. M. 5642.)