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DOMESTIC BOTANY. 



The fruit is berry-like, formed of the succulent calyx, and is 

 in some places used medicinally. 



The Protea Family. 



(PROTEACEiE,) 



Large and small trees or shrubs with alternate, rarely 

 opposite, single lobed, winged leaves, much divided ; generally 

 harsh and prickly, varying from broad elliptical to narrow, 

 like needles. Flowers in spikes or heads, compact, or loose 

 and panicled ; bisexual. Calyx 4-parted, or 4-cleft, each 

 lobe with a concave apex bearing a sessile stamen (anther). 

 Pistil simple. Fruit consisting of a 1 — 2 or many seeded 

 follicle, separate or in compact heads, forming hard woody 

 cones. 



This remarkable and distinct family of plants consists of 

 about 1000 species, almost entirely confined to the southern 

 hemisphere, the great regions being South Africa, Australia, 

 and Tasmania, where the smaller sorts form harsh scrub. 

 A few are found in New Zealand and Chili, and are re- 

 presented in tropical America by the beautiful tree genus 

 Bhopala, and in the Malay Islands by the genus Helicia. It 

 is singular that such an extensive family should produce no 

 products of importance to man. The larger trees are, how- 

 ever, valued for their beautiful mottled wood, which is used 

 in cabinet work. They have long been much admired as 

 botanical curiosities, both in this country and on the 

 Continent. 



Silver Tree {Leucodendron argenteum). A small tree with 

 beautiful silvery lance-shaped leaves, native of Table Moun- 

 tain, Cape of Good Hope. Its vicinity to Cape Town has 

 led to its almost complete extirpation for firewood. 



Silky Oak (Grevillea rohusta). A native of Queensland, 

 and probably one of the loftiest trees of the family; it 

 attains the height of from 50 to 150 feet, with a diameter 

 of from 6 to 8 feet ; its timber is valued. A plant 

 introduced at Kew in 1826, has attained a large size, 



