Plagianthus
(from plagios, oblique, and anthos, a flower; referring to the usually unequal-sided petals). Cotton-tree; Ribbon-tree. ORD. Malvaceae. A genus comprising about eleven species of greenhouse or half-hardy shrubs, or rarely herbs, natives of Australia and New Zealand. Flowers white, often small, in the axils or in terminal crowded spikes, rarely solitary or disposed in short axillary panicles; calyx five-toothed or five-fid. Leaves entire, sinuate, angled, or rarely lobed. The species described below are half-hardy shrubs, except where otherwise stated. For culture, see Malvaviscus. P. betulinus (Birch-like). fl. small, on slender, ebracteolate pedicels; panicles terminal, much-branched, very many-flowered, stellate-tomentose. Summer. l. of young plants 1/4in. to 1/2in. long, rounded-ovate, variously crenate and lobed; in full-grown specimens, 1in. to 2in. long, ovate or ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, rounded or cuneate at base, coarsely crenate-serrate or obtusely doubly serrate. h. (in its native place) 40ft. to 70ft. New Zealand, 1870.
P. divaricatus (straggling). fl. in axillary fascicles or on one-flowered peduncles, shorter than the leaves. June. l. 1/3in. to 3/4in. long, narrow-linear or sub-cuneate, obtuse, quite entire, one-nerved. Branches slender, spreading, tough. h. 8ft. New Zealand, 1820. As this species is only found in salt marshes, where very few shrubby plants thrive, its cultivation in such places might prove beneficial. (B. M. 3271.) P. Lampenii (Rev. R. Lampen's).* fl. very pale yellow, almost white; petals five, roundish-oblong, much longer than the calyx; panicles short, leafy, axillary. November to February. l. shortly petiolate, oblong-lanceolate, acute, 4in. to 5in. long, sharply and regularly serrated, deep green above, hoary beneath. h. 6ft. to 8ft. Van Diemen's Land, 1833. (G. C. n. s., xxii. 201.) P. Lyallii (Lyall's).* fl. 3/4in. broad, drooping, axillary; peduncles one-flowered, solitary or fascicled, ebracteolate, about as long as the petioles. July. l. 2in. to 4in. long, ovate-cordate, acuminate, deeply and doubly crenated; petioles 1/2in. to 1 1/2in. long. h. 20ft. New Zealand, 1871. A handsome, greenhouse, sub-deciduous shrub. (B. M. 5935.) P. pulchellus (pretty). fl. small, clustered along the rachis of axillary racemes; males pedicellate, females sessile. Summer. l. on rather long petioles, from deeply cordate-ovate to lanceolate, often acuminate, 2in. to 3in. (or rarely more) long, coarsely crenate. Australia. Tall greenhouse shrub or small tree. (B. M. 2753, under name of Sida pulchella.) P. sidoides (Sida-like). fl. small, in short, axillary racemes, the males with a campanulate, the females with a tubular, calyx. Summer. l. from ovate-lanceo-late to lanceolate, obtusely serrate, 2in. to 3in., or rarely 4in., long, rounded at base, on petioles 1/4in. to 1/2in. long, glabrous on the upper side when full grown, with numerous impressed veins. h. 4ft. Australia. Greenhouse. (B. M. 3396.)