Plate 76. 



PEOTEA EECONDITA. 



Cape Province. 



Peoteaceae. Tribe Peoteeae. 

 Peotea, Linn. ; Benth. et Hoolc.f. Gen. Plant, vol. iii. p. 169. 



Protea recondita, Bueh. ex Meisn. in DC. Prodr. xiv. 237 ; Fl. Cap. vol. v. 



sect. i. p. 584. 



This rare Protea was sent to us by Miss L. Guthrie of the 

 Bolus Herbarium, who received it from Mr. de Wet of Ceres. 

 Mr. de Wet described it as a low trailing plant with the 

 branches 2 feet long and raised about a foot above the ground. 

 The heads are hidden by the upper leaves. Hitherto the 

 species has only been recorded from Ezelsbank on the Cedar- 

 berg Bange, Clanwilliam Division, where it was collected by 

 Drege almost a hundred years ago. 



This example, unlike so many species of Protea, is not 

 particularly handsome. The bracts are a pale dull green, and 

 the flowers somewhat scented, reminding one very much of 

 the odour of Protea mellifera. 



Specimens are preserved in the National Herbarium, 

 Pretoria (Herb. No. 1490). 



Description : — Branches pale green, glabrous. Leaves 7- 

 19 cm. long, 1-8-7 cm. broad (the largest leaves surrounding 

 the head), elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, obtuse, narrowed to 

 the base, with distinct reddish veins and a reddish margin, 

 glabrous. Head sessile, 5*5 cm. long, 7 cm. in diameter. 

 Involucral-bracts in about 9 rows ; the outer ovate, sub- 

 acuminate, obtuse, ciliate ; the inner oblong, incurved, some- 

 what concave, slightly exceeding the flowers, scantily pilose. 

 Receptacle 3*2 cm. broad at base, about 1*5 cm. high, conical. 

 Perianth-sheath 2-6 cm. long, dilated, keeled and 3-nerved 

 below, glabrous, except for setae near the apex ; lip 6 mm. 

 long, setulose with golden-brown hairs. Hypogynous scales 

 1*5 mm. long, ovate. Ovary covered with long golden-brown 



