i ;
P L iV T i:
P R O T E A
C C C C X X I X .
IN C U R V A.
Inciirvcd-Icavcd Proica.
C L A S S I\. O R D E R I.
TETRANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Four Chives. One Pointal.
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.
BLOSSOM four-cleft, or four-petaled. Tips
linear, inserted on the petals below the
apex. Em))alement proper, none. Nut
one-seeded, above.
COROI-LA quadrifida, sive quadripetala. Ant
h e r « lineares, insertae petalis infra apicem.
Calyx proprius, nullus. Nux unisperma,
supera.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER, &C.
PROTEA, foliis filiformibus incurvis glabris, PKOTEA, with thread-shaped incurved smooth
capitulis racemoso-spicatis tomentosis. leaves, and heads of flo^Yers racemose-
Thunl. Prod. 26.—Diss. no. 22. lai. 3. spiked and woolly.
f g , 2.—JriUd. Sp.PI. 1. 516.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. A flower.
2 . A petal magnified.
3 . The seed-bud and pointal, with the summit det.ached and magnified.
I'HE Protea incurva is a native of tlie Cape of Good Hope, which is also the native country of by
far the greater part of this extensive genus.
I n this coirntry it is considered and treated as a hardy green-house plant; and requires, like most of
Its congeners, a fresh loamy soil, and an airy situation in the 'winter. A very abundant supply of
f r e s h air, indeed, is of essential consequence in the cultivation of most of the Cape plants; they
benefit by it in the d.ty time in most sorts of weather, even if rainy, provided the plants are not wetted
by the rain, and tlie temperature of the atmosphere is not lower than forty degrees of Fahrenheit's
thermometer.
I n many collections, we are of opinion, too little air is usually admitted in the green-house ; e.speclally
in winter, and early spring: and we are also of opinion, that where we have seen the most
given, the plants are the most healthy and robust. The fine collection at Mr. Hibberfs is a
powerful argument in favour of this tlieory.—In few places is air so freely given ; in none are plants
in finer health : therefore much air is essentially necessaiy; for plants, like aninials, are now known to
absorb from the atmosphere, through a process analogous to respiration, its oxygenous particles ; thence
deriving strength and vigour, and without which no animal or vegetable can at all maintain either
healtli or life.
Our figure was made from the Clapham CoUection last .Tune. The plant is shrubby, erect, and
is propagated by cuttings in the usual way.
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