SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Protea floribus simplicibus, racemoso-spicatis, glabris; foliis filiformibus, sparsis, glabris.
Protea with simple flowers, growing in branching spikes, and smooth; leaves thread-shaped, scattered, and smooth.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. A Blossom complete.
2. One Petal of the Blossom, (magnified), with its Chive attached.
3. The Pointal and Seed-bud, (magnified).
4. A ripe Seed.
The Pine-leaved Protea from the Cape of Good Hope, is rather a delicate plant; and is subject to be killed, if not kept in the driest, and warmest part of the greenhouse, being very susceptible of damps. It makes a very fine appearance when in bloom, growing to the height of two feet or more upright, and with few branches; every part of the plant, (which is uncommon in this genus,) is quite smooth and shining. This species of Protea is an inhabitant of our gardens, since the year 1780; when it was first introduced by William Forsyth, Esq. of Kensington, but has been rarely seen to flower, as it is found but in few collections; owing to the difficulty of propagating it, by the only possible method in this country, cuttings. The soil it approves most, as do most of the Proteas, is a light loam. The drawing was taken at the Hammersmith nursery, from a plant which flowered there in August this year.[Pg 309]
PLATE 76
