Classification of Plants 



209 



Leucadendron. — Flowers borne in cone-like heads. 

 Involucre formed by the upper leaves, which give the delicate 

 yellow colour to the veld in spring where these shrubs abound. 

 In some species the involucre is reddish. The fruit may 

 be flat, and distributed by wings or globose, as in the Silver 

 Tree (Z. Argenteum). Seventy species, chiefly in the Coast 

 region. 



Protea may be distinguished by the showy involucres, 

 serving, in some species, as a landing-place for birds which aid 

 in pollination. The involucres of P. mellifera (the Sugar Bush) 

 are often half filled with honey in the early morning. Erect or 



Fig. 208. — Protea macrophylla. 



prostrate shrubs or trees. Sixty species. Extending from the 

 Cape up through Central Africa. 



Leucospermum. — Trees or shrubs, sometimes trailing 

 with yellow flowers, mostly terminal. Twenty species, chiefly 

 Western. 



Mimetes has the habit of Leucospermum, but the flowers 

 are reddish or purple, and the heads small. 



Serruria may be known by the needle-shaped, usually 

 divided leaves, and purplish silvery heads, frequently in 

 clusters. Shrubs erect or trailing. Fifty species, chiefly 

 Western. 



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