Reaumuria
(named in honour of Rene A. Ferchault de Reaumur, 1683-1757, a famous French entomologist). ORD. Tamariscineae. A genus comprising about half-a-score species of half-hardy, much-branched, procumbent or divaricate sub-shrubs or small shrubs, natives of the Mediterranean region (mostly Eastern) and central Asia. Flowers terminal, solitary, larger than in Tamariz; sepals five, sub-connate or nearly free at base, surrounded by few or many imbricated, sepaloid bracts; claws of the petals broad; stamens many. Leaves small or fleshy, sub-terete, often clustered. R. hypericoides, the species best known to gardeners, is a beautiful shrub, of easy culture; a compost of sandy loam and peat is most suitable. It may be readily increased by means of cuttings taken from the young wood, and inserted in similar soil, under a bell glass.
R. hypericoides (St. John's Wort-like).* fl. purple; petals irregular, ovate or ovate-oblong, very obtuse, the appendices short and slightly fimbriated at apex; bracts lanceolate-subulate, a little longer than the calyx. August. l. coriaceous; cauline ones linear, linear-lanceolate, lanceolate-oblong, or lanceolate. h. 2ft. Syria, 1800. (B. M. 2057; B. R. 845.)