Parsonsia
(named in honour of Dr. John Parsons, 1705-1770, a Scotch physician and writer on natural history). SYNS. Heligma, Helygia, and Spirostemon. ORD. Apocynaceae. A genus comprising twelve species of greenhouse, glabrous or puberulous, twining shrubs or sub-shrubs, natives of tropical Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. Flowers whitish, small; cymes dichotomous, terminal or shortly pedunculate in the axils, sometimes forming a terminal thyrse. Leaves opposite. For culture, see Dipladenia.
P. albiflora (white-flowered). fl. white, 1/4in. long, in many-flowered panicles, odorous; corolla-lobes shorter than the tube. May. l. usually 1in. to 2in. long, coriaceous, oblong-ovate or lanceolate, with transverse veins, more rarely linear or obovate, or narrow linear-lanceolate, 3in. to 4in. long, with lobed margins, in young plants spathulate. Stems stout, glabrous or pubescent. New Zealand. SYN. P. heterophylla (J. H. S. v. 195). P. variabilis, of Lindley, is supposed, by some authorities, to be founded on young specimens of this.
P. heterophylla (variable-leaved). A synonym of P. albiflora. P. velutina (velvety). fl., corolla tube shorter than the calyx; cymes rather small and dense, solitary or few, on opposite, axillary peduncles. July. l. on rather long petioles, from broadly-ovate to ovate-oblong, truncate or cordate at base, 2in. to 5in. long. Australia. A tall, woody climber, softly pubescent or villous.