ATr. Brown, on the Proteacea of Jiissieu. 25 



From this account of the geographical distribution of the 

 Proteacca?, 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 Si/mphio' 

 nema palndosmn, 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. 



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 bracteae 

 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. 



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 I'ised in the 

 capsular or drupaceous genera, in which indeed experience 

 . VOL. X. E proves 



