88 PROTEGE. [CI. 6. 



Mr. Brown remarks, that the Aestivation (60) is 

 imbricated, and that there is sometimes a thin fleshy- 

 Albumen. This is therefore one of the instances in 

 which the absence or presence of that substance af- 

 fords no absolute distinction, scarcely any Order be- 

 ing more natural than the present. The splendid 

 silky tenacious fibres, of the bark when broken, mark 

 the Thymelcece. A burning acrimony pervades the 

 whole of the plants. The flowers are generally fra- 

 grant. Leaves simple, undivided, and entire. 



Ord. 26. Protege. " Calyx in 4 or 5 very deep 

 segments, or tubular, with more shallow ones, it's base 

 occasionally subtended by minute hairs or scales; 

 segments each bearing- 1 Stamen about the middle. 

 Germen 1, superior. Style simple, as is usually the 

 Stigma. Seed 1, either naked, or in a Pericarp, or 

 the latter is a Capsule with several Seeds. Albumen 

 none. Radicle inferior. Stem shrubby. Leaves al- 

 ternate, or crowded into imperfect whorls. Flowers 

 either distinct, or variously aggregate in an imbricated 

 common Calyx, with a common Receptacle. Sta- 

 mens and Pistil sometimes separated." 



Protea, fig. 159, Banksia, Roupala of Aublet, 

 Brabeium, and Embothrium, fig. 160, are all the 

 Jussieuan genera. But this Order, of which Lin- 

 naeus had conceived no idea, has risen to great impor- 

 tance in the hands of Mr. Brown, Tr. of Linn. Soc. 

 v. 10. and Prodr. Nov. Holl. v. 1. 363, under the 

 name of Proteacea. Several of it's new genera in- 



