Philotheca
(from philos, smooth, and theke, a sheath; alluding to the smooth tubes of the stamens). ORD. Rutaceae. A genus comprising only a couple of species of ornamental, erect, Heath-like shrubs, confined to extra tropical and Eastern sub-tropical Australia. Flowers terminal, nearly sessile, solitary or two or three together; calyx segments and petals five, the latter imbricate in bud; disk slightly lobed. Leaves crowded, alternate, narrow-linear. P. australis, the only species introduced, requires culture similar to Phebalium (which see).
P. australis (Southern).* fl. pale red, usually solitary, but sometimes two or three together; sepals broadly triangular; petals broadly lanceolate. April. l. numerous, linear, obtuse, rarely exceeding 1/4in. long, rather thick, flat or channelled above, very convex underneath, or almost terete. h. 2ft. 1822.