CHAP, n.] PROTEACE^. 425 



Two small orders, Illigerese and Hemandia- 

 cese, containing Indian plants rarely met with 

 in England, are introduced here by some bo- 

 tanists. 



ORDER CLIX.— MYRISTICE^. 



The only interesting plant in this order is the 

 Nutmeg (M. officinale, or moschafa). In this 

 plant, the fruit is pear-shaped, and it consists of 

 a half-fleshy pericardium enclosing a jet-black 

 stone, encircled by a fleshy orange-red arillus, 

 which is the mace. The nutmeg is the kernel 

 of the stone, and it is not taken out for sale 

 till it is sufiiciently ripe to rattle when shaken. 

 The leaves are of a dark green above, and glau- 

 cous beneath ; and the flowers are white, with 

 the red pistil conspicuous in the centre. The 

 tree is a native of Ceylon and the East Indian 

 Islands, and it requires a stove in England . 



ORDER CLX.— PROTEACEiE. 



The principal genera are Protea, Banksia, 

 Dryandra, and Grevillea, all very singular 

 plants, the species of which, when one of each 

 genus has been seen, are easily recognised. 

 They are all natives of the Cape of Good Hope 

 and New Holland. 



