Knightia
(named after Thos. A. Knight, 1758-1838, a pomologist, and at one time President of the London Horticultural Society). SYN. Rymandra. ORD. Proteaceae. A genus comprising three species of trees or shrubs, of which one is from New Zealand, and the two others from New Caledonia. Flowers geminate, pedicellate, in dense, sessile, axillary, lateral or terminal racemes. Leaves scattered, coriaceous, entire or deeply toothed. K. excelsa, the only species yet introduced, is an ornamental greenhouse evergreen tree, growing in its native country to a height of 100ft., and having much the habit of a Lombardy Poplar. It thrives in a compost of peat, to which a small quantity of sandy loam is added. Plenty of drainage must be afforded. Cuttings of ripe shoots, with leaves intact, except at the base, will root in sandy soil, under a bell glass, in a very gentle bottom heat.
K. excelsa (lofty). fl. flesh-coloured, in axillary racemes, which are nearly as long as the leaves, and covered with reddish-brown velvety down. l. very harsh, linear-oblong, coarsely and rather bluntly toothed, from 4in. to 6in. long. New Zealand, 1824. The wood of this tree is mottled with red and brown, and is largely employed in making furniture. (T. L. S. x. 2.)