Platycarpum
(from platys, broad, and karpos, a fruit; alluding to the shape of the capsule). ORD. Rubiaceae. A monotypic genus. The species is a tall, stove tree, with robust, opposite, terete branches. A compost of loam and leaf mould will suit it. Propagation may be effected by half-ripened cuttings, inserted in sand, under a glass. Keeping the plants rather dry during the winter, has a tendency to bring them into flower.
P. orenocense (Orinoco). fl. pale rose-colour, mediocre, disposed in terminal, trichotomously-branched panicles, pedicellate, ebracteate, and ebracteolate; calyx five-lobed, rather large, deciduous; corolla hypocraterimorphous, silky, with a short tube, and a limb of five equal, broadly oblong, imbricated lobes. Capsule some-what woody, 1in. in diameter. l. oblong, 5in to 6in. long, 2in. to 2 1/2in. broad, opposite, petiolate, coriaceous, tomentose; petioles about 1/4in. long. h. 20ft. Orinoco, 1813.