1. The blossom complete, and one of the chives magnified.
2. Seed-bud and pointal, summit magnified.
The appearance of this Protea, as cultivated in the gardens, is diametrically opposite to its natural character, which, as its specific indicates, is repent or creeping; instead of which, the branches of the plant are bent from their natural habit, forced as upright as possible, and fastened to a stick; in which situation the flowers only would compare with our figure. But so averse is it to this confined mode of treatment, that, as soon as the branches are liberated, they instantly take the direction most natural to them, and which is certainly the most graceful. Although repens is the more general title of this Protea, yet we have heard it sometimes called amplexicaulis, a name given by some cultivators to a plant whose foliage is so nearly resembling the one now figured, that, when it arrives at a flowering state, it will most probably prove to be no more than a variation of culture. It is a difficult matter to say in what stage the flower is most beautiful, whether in the bud state, before the pointals are released, or afterwards. From their long confinement, the pollen adheres so strongly to them, that when relieved they appear like the antheræ. Our drawing was made at the Hibbertian collection from a plant in fine bloom in the month of February.[Pg 43]
PLATE CCCCLIV.
URTICA BACCIFERA.
Berry-bearing Nettle.
CLASS XXI. ORDER IV.
MONŒCIA TETRANDRIA. Chives and Pointals separate. Four Chives.
GENERIC CHARACTER.