116 TETRANDIA. 



six inches, to ten feet in height; the leaves and flowers being 

 of various forms and colors. They are all natives of the 

 Cape of Good Hope, but many of them have been introduced 

 into England, and cultivated in green-houses, on account of 

 their singularity, or their beauty. They may be propagated 

 by cuttings, taken off at the joints, and placed in pots. 



To this genus belongs the Silver Tree, (Protect argentea,) 

 which is also found at the Cape, and nowhere else. Its 

 leaves are soft and rich, with a surface like white satin, and 

 when thrown into agitation by a breeze, are said to exhibit a 

 splendid appearance. The Golden Proteus is another beau- 

 tiful tree of the same tribe. The leaves of this are yellowish 

 green, edged with scarlet, so that when agitated in the sun- 

 beams, they are said to resemble waves of fire. 



GENUS Banksia. So named by Linnaeus, in honor of Sir 

 Joseph Banks, Pres. Royal Society. It is a foreign genus, 

 the species being found only in New Holland, and New 

 South Wales. The species are nearly thirty, and most of 

 them evergreen, hot-house plants. The flowers grow in 

 heads, or bunches, chiefly at the tops of the plants, or ends 

 of the branches. In most of the species, their color is yellow 

 This and the genus Protea are considered among the most 

 beautiful genera known. 



GENUS Pothos. From potha, the native name of this plant 

 in Ceylon. Most of the species climb up the trunks of trees, 

 like ivy, and grow in hot climates. The Skunk Cabbage, 

 (Pothos fatida,) or Symplocarpus foetida, is a species of this 

 genus which grows in the swamps of New England. 



The plant is repulsive on account of its smell, but the 

 flower is a curiosity. It appears in April, in the form of a 

 boat-shaped, inflated spathe, spotted with red and yellow. 

 Within the spathe is an oval spadix of considerable size, 

 covered with flowers, in which will be found four stamens, 

 and one pistil. After the flower has been some time in blos- 

 som, large, green, radical leaves appear, of an oblong, oval 

 shape. These continue during the summer. The fruit is a 

 large, fleshy mass containing many round seeds. 



GENUS Dipsacus. Teasel. Dipsacus is from the Greek, 

 and signifies to thirst, because at the angle between the 



What is said of the genus Protea ? Whence does Banksia derive its 

 name ? 



