440 GARDEN PLANTS. PART II. 



PROTEACE,E. 



A numerous order of very curious and interesting trees and 

 shrubs, comprising the beautiful species of Banksia, Protea, 

 Hakea, and Dryandra, natives almost exclusively of the Cape 

 and New Holland, of which scarcely a single plant has been 

 found capable of living in the plains of India. 



Grevillea. 



1. G. robusta. A lofty tree, native of humid forests in the 

 neighbourhood of Port Jackson in New Holland, where it rises 

 to the height of from 100 to 120 feet; a most noble object, 

 handsome at all periods of its growth, with beautiful dense 

 foliage of fern-like, rich dark-green leaves: bears in March 

 greenish-yellow flowers mixed with orange of moderate size. 

 This, which is about the only Proteaceous plant we have, has 

 become quite established in gardens around Calcutta, where the 

 climate suits it well, though it does not attain to any great 

 height here. Its wood is said to be spongy and fragile. Pro- 

 pagated only by seed. 



2. G. buxifolia. A small pretty box-leaved shrub from Sidney. 

 A potted plant of this, about 2J feet high, is found in the Cal- 

 cutta Botanical Gardens. 



LAUBACE^B. 



Cinnamomum. 



C. Zeylanicum CINNAMON-TKEE. A tree of moderate size, 

 with large lanceolate leaves with three parallel nerves ; bears in 

 January and February numerous pretty panicles of small white 

 flowers, emitting rather an unpleasant odour, and possessing none 

 of the fragrance for which the leaves and bark are so well known. 

 Propagated by seed. 



Laurus. 



L. nobilis SWEET BAY. Does not seem to thrive at all in 

 this country. Only poor small specimens in pots are to be met 

 with in the Calcutta Botanical Gardens. 



