Mr. Brown, on the Proteacee of Jussieu. 25 
From this account of the geographical distribution of the 
Proteacex, I proceed to make some general remarks on the 
structure and modifications of their different parts. The order, 
which consists of shrubs of the most rigid nature, or of trees of 
moderate size, contains also one herbaceous plant, my Symphio- 
nema paludosum, which however, except in this respect and in 
the union of the tops of its filaments, does not remarkably differ 
from the usual structure of the family. DIU 
The pubescence, which is very general in the order, consists 
either of a short and in many cases nearly impalpable tomentum, 
or of soft hairs which are either spreading, close pressed, or 
somewhat crisped, generally simple, but in some genera fixed 
by the middle, and in a very few cases glandular. ; 
The existence or absence of pubescence in the adult leaves 
cannot always be depended upon in distinguishing species ; but 
the short tomentum, especially of their under surface, is ‘of 
greater consequence than the spreading hairs. In the bractex 
more reliance may be placed on it, and in the different parts of 
the flower I have never hesitated to employ it in my specific 
characters. In the calyx I have even derived the greatest ad- 
vantage in some difficult genera, especially Serruria, from at- 
tending to its differences in direction. cds aad 
Mr. Salisbury has introduced the pubescence of fruit into se- 
veral of his generic characters, and in some I think with evi- 
dent advantage, but in such only as where from its abundance 
and length it performs a function of manifest importance in assist- 
ing dissemination : hence I conceive it may be safely admitted 
into the characters of Protea and Isopogon ; but I can perceive 
no advantage whatever in employing it in those of Serruria and 
Spatalla. For this reason too it ought not to be used in the 
capsular or drupaceous genera, in which indeed experience 
VOL. x. E proves 
