1734 



A TEXTBOOK OF THEORETICAL BOTANY 



The family as a whole is characteristic of dry situations and shows 

 decided xerophytic tendencies. They form a very characteristic element in 

 the flora of South Africa, especially the south-western portion of Cape 



Fig. i6io. — Protea mellifeni. Inflorescence. Photograph 

 suppHed by Douglas ElHott, New Zealand. 



Colony. A second centre of distribution is the dry south-western regions of 

 Australia, whence they spread out to New Zealand, New Caledonia and 

 eastern Asia. Telopea speciosissima is the national flower of Australia and 

 is known as the Waratah. In contrast to the dense distribution in these 

 areas only a few species occur in South America and none are found in 

 north temperate regions; in fact the group is essentially a southern hemi- 

 sphere one, as will be seen from the accompanying map (Fig. 1612). 



