Volume 7 — PLATE CCCCLXV.

PROTEA DIVARICATA.

Straddling-leaved Protea.

CLASS IV. ORDER I.

TETRANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Four Chives. One Pointal.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

Corolla 4-fida, seu 4-petala. Antheræ lineares, petalis infra apices insertæ. Calyx proprius, nullus. Sem. solitaria.

Blossom four-cleft, or of four petals. Tips linear, inserted into the petals below the points. Cup proper, none. Seeds solitary.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Protea divaricata, foliis multifidis, longis, linearibus, teretibus, patentibus: floribus glomeratis, luteis.

Protea with straddling leaves, many-cleft, long, linear, round, and spreading. Flowers grow in close round heads of a yellow colour.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

This very distinct species of Protea we have not seen in any other collection than that of G. Hibbert, esq. nor is it as yet amongst the numerous fine dried specimens in the herbarium of A. B. Lambert, esq. and certainly may be considered at present as a rare plant. From the firm luxuriance of the foliage, and woody character of its stem, we should be inclined to regard it as a plant not difficult to preserve; and considering the abundance of its leaves, the flowers are comparatively few: and very likely this circumstance may best account for its present scarcity; for, amongst the various beauties of this extensive tribe, numerous flowers, or speciosity of appearance, are the best recommendations to particular attention.