Volume 7 — PLATE CCCCXXXVII.

PROTEA CANALICULATA.

Channelled-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 apicem insertæ. Calyx proprius, nullus. Semina solitaria.

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

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Protea, foliis canaliculatis, incurvatis, rigidis, linearibus, acutis: floribus purpureis, terminalibus: caule rubro.

Protea, with channelled leaves, incurved, harsh, linear, and sharp-pointed: flowers purple, and terminating the branches: stem red.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

This fine Protea is of recent introduction, within the last four or five years, from the Cape of Good Hope to the gardens of G. Hibbert, Esq. From the particular strong channel on the back of its leaves we have adopted its specific title, and have no doubt that a feature so visible in every stage of the plant will always discriminate it. The leaves are enlivened by such brilliant red stalks, as, in addition to its flower, render it an attractive object: nor is it so difficult to preserve as many of them are; for the greatest of care is requisite to preserve numbers of this fine tribe from the damps of this island, an enemy they are so little accustomed to in their native clime.