Podalyria
(Podalyrius, in heathen mythology, was the son of AEsculapius). ORD. Leguminosae. A genus comprising seventeen species of greenhouse, evergreen shrubs, more or less silky or silvery-pubescent, natives of South Africa. Flowers one or two, rarely three or four, on axillary peduncles; calyx widely campanulate, remarkably indented at its insertion on the stalk; vexillum sub-orbiculate, emarginate. Pods ovoid or oblong, turgid. Leaves simple, alternate, continuous with the petioles; stipules subulate, often deciduous. The species, which are rarely seen in cultivation, require a well-drained compost of sandy loam and fibry peat. Propagated, in spring, by cuttings of stubby side-shoots, inserted in sand, under a bell glass. P. argentea (silvery). fl. white; calyx three-toothed, sub-bilabiate, rusty-tomentose; standard large, obcordate, longer than the clawed, axe-shaped wings; keel shorter than the wings. June. l. oval, sharp at both ends, with rust-coloured margins. h. 6ft. 1789. SYN. P. biflora (B. M. 753). P. biflora (two-flowered). A synonym of P. argentea. P. buxifolia (Box-leaved). fl. purple, with paler wings; pedicels one-flowered, about the length of the leaves. May to July. l. oval or oblong, bluntish, glabrous above, silky beneath. h. 2ft. to 4ft. 1790. (B. R. 869.) P. calyptrata (covered).* fl. pale purple; pedicels one-flowered, about equal in length to the leaves. May to July. l. oval or obovate, mucronate, pubescent, reticulated beneath. h. 6ft. 1792. (B. M. 1580.) SYN. P. styracifolia.
P. sericea (silky). African Satin-bush. fl. pale purple; pedicels one-flowered, much shorter than the leaves, and, as well as the calyces, clothed with appressed, silky pubescence. January to October. l. oblong-ovate, mucronate, silky on both surfaces. h. 4ft. to 6ft. 1778. (B. M. 1923.) P. styracifolia (Styrax-leaved). A synonym of P. calyptrata.