CXCII. UKTICE2E. 



665 



Prottaceee almost exclusively belong to south temperate regions, being especially abundant at the 

 Cape of Good Hope and in Australia. They are much rarer in New Zealand and in South America. A 

 few are found in tropical Australia and equatorial Asia ; some inhabit equatorial America ; very few have 

 been observed in equatorial Africa, and none have been found in the north temperate zone [except at the 

 foot of the Himalayas and in Japan]. 



This family is more noticeable for the richness arid elegance of its flowers than for its useful pro- 

 perties; it has therefore been long cultivated by gardeners. The bark of several species is astringent, the 

 seeds of some are edible ; and notably those of the Queensland Nut, Macadamia termfolia. Protea yrantli- 

 flora, from South Africa, is used by the natives for the cure of diarrhoea. The seeds of Brabejum stcllatitm, 

 roasted like chestnuts, are edible, and its pericarp forms a substitute for coffee j those of Guevina Avelluna 

 are collected by the inhabitants of Chili, who like their mild and somewhat oily taste ; its pericarp is 

 there substituted for that of the pomegranate. 



The nectaries of Banksia and Protect secrete an abundant nectar, eagerly sought by bees ; that 

 yielded by Protea mettifera, lepidocarpos and speciosa, is used, under the name of Protea .Juice (Bosch/es 

 stroop), as a bechic at the Cape of Good Hope. The aborigines of Australia feed on the nectar of Banksia. 

 [The wood of some Australian species is useful for cabinet work. Protea gramliflora is the Wagen-boom, 

 whose wood is used for waggon wheels.] 



CXCII. URTICEJ?. 



(URTICABUM genera, Jussieu. URTICEARUM genera, D.C. URTICEJE, 7?r., WeddelL 



URTICACE^E, 'Endlicher.) 



s Ncttl*. (Ur.'ica uren.i.) 



Nettle. 



Fruit, entire and cut vertically 

 (ning.). 



Ilii/niieria. 

 Pistil (mag.). 



/!., Inner in. 



Vertical section Of 



ftchenc (mag.). 



