CXCII. UETICE^. 



665 



ProUacece 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 and 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 grandi- 

 flo7-a, from South Africa, is used by the natives for the cure of diarrhoea. The seeds of Brahejum stellatum, 

 roasted like chestnuts, are edible, and its pericarp forms a substitute for coft'ee ; those of Guevina Avellana 

 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 Sanlcsia and Protea secrete an abundant nectar, eagerly sought by bees ; that 

 yielded by Protea mellifera, Icpidocarpos and speoiosa, is used, under the name of Protea Juice {Boschjei 

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

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

 whose wood is used for waggon wheels.] 



CXCII. URTICKk. 



A 



(Urticarum; genera, Jussieu, — Urticearum: genera^ D.O, — Urtice^, Br., Weddell 



Urticace^, Endlicher.) 



StLngiag Nettle. (. Urlica uren.s^) 



Nettle. 



Fruit, entire and cut Tertically 



(mag.). 



Bcehmeria. 

 Pistil (inae.)- 



Tioehmerin. 



Vertical section of 



aclienc (mag.). 



