1-i ON THE PROTEACEiE OF JUSSIEU. 



ever, 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, con- 

 sists 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 bractese 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 advantage in some difficult 

 genera, especially Serruria, from attending to its differences 

 in direction. 



Mr. Salisbury has introduced the pubescence of fruit 

 into several of his generic characters, and in some I think 

 with evident advantage, but in such only as where from its 

 abundance and length it performs a function of manifest 

 importance in assisting dissemination : hence I conceive it 

 may be safely admitted into the characters of Protea and 

 Isopoffon ; 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 used in the capsular or 

 drupaceous genera, in which indeed experience proves it to 

 20] be of no further moment than in distinguishing species. 



Dr. Smith has given it as his opinion, that from the dis- 

 position of leaves in New Holland plants no conclusion 

 can safely be drawn as to their genera. This remark how- 

 ever appears to me only applicable to certain famihes, or 

 rather genera ; for in many tribes the plants of that country 

 are altogether as constant in their leaves as in any other 

 part of the world. In proof of this, it may be sufficient to 

 mention the order Rubiacese ; and there are many others in 

 which I find nothing at all remarkable in this respect. 



