Oxyanthus
(from oxys, sharp, and anthos, a flower; referring to the sharply-toothed calyx and corolla). SYN. Megacarpha. ORD. Rubiaceae. A genus comprising about a dozen species of highly ornamental stove trees and shrubs, with terete branches, inhabiting tropical, sub-tropical, and South-eastern Africa. Flowers white or yellow, scented, elongated, disposed in short or long, many-flowered, axillary corymbs; calyx five-toothed; corolla hypocrateri-formed, five-lobed; pedicels bracteolate. Leaves opposite, shortly petiolate, often oblique at base, coriaceous; stipules rather large, intra-petiolar, oblong, obtuse or acute, deciduous. The two species described below thrive in a peaty soil, and should be grown in well-drained pots, in a light, airy position. Practically, the conditions which are found to suit their near allies, the Gardenias, will also suit these. Propagated by cuttings, inserted under a bell glass, in bottom heat. O. speciosus (showy). A synonym of O. tubiflorus.
O. tubiflorus (tube-flowered).* fl. white, 6in. long, with the limb 2in. across, in terminal heads. July. l. broad, 5in. long. Branchlets, leaves, and calyces glabrous. h. 3ft. to 4ft. Sierra Leone, 1789. Shrub. SYNS. O. speciosus (B. M. 1992), Gardenia tubiflora (A. B. R. 183). (B. M. 4636.) O. versicolor (various-coloured). fl. whitish, rose-colour, and pink; corolla tube 4in. to 6in. long; segments linear, scarcely longer than the stamens. July. l. oval-lanceolate, acuminate, glabrous. h. 3ft. 1839. (F. d. S. ii. 148.) Stated to come from Cuba in work just quoted; it, however, must be a native of tropical Africa.