1821 
CXI. PROTEACEiE. - 
[Persoonia. 
Stems erect. Leaves rarely above 4in. when narrow, always shorter' when 
broad. 
Leaves mostly lanceolate or elliptical. Pedicels very short. Flowers 
solitary or rarely 2 together 8. P. lanceolata. 
Leaves linear, often very narrow. Flowers axillary. Ovary 2-ovulate 9. P. linearis. 
Ovary glabrous. Leaves narrow-linear. Pedicels slender 10. P. virgata. 
Ovary glabrous. Leaves filiform, not pungent. Ovary 2-ovulate. Perianth- 
segments without points .... 11. P. tenuifolia. 
1. P. falcata (falcate), Pi. Br. in. Trans. Linn. Soc. x. 162, Prod. 378 ; 
Benth. FI. Austr. v. 385. “ Tar-poon,” Annan River, Roth.] “ Nanchee ” and 
“ Booral,” Mitchell River, Palmer. Usually a small tree, glabrous or the young 
shoots minutely tomentose-pubescent. Leaves linear or lanceolate, falcate, 4 to 
lOin. long, and very variable in width, obtuse or acuminate, contracted into a 
petiole, the midrib prominent, the margins usually nerve-like, the lateral veins 
obscure or fine and very oblique. Pedicels slender, i to ^in. long, glabrous as 
well as the perianth or very minutely hoary-pubescent, sometimes all axillary, 
but more frequently forming a long raceme with the lower floral leaves reduced 
to bracts and growing out at the end into a leafy shoot. Ovary glabrous, of 
nearly uniform thickness with the short stipes and incurved style, the stigma 
oblique under the upper anther. Anthers all perfect, but the upper one usually 
smaller, the connective produced into along or short point. Fruit ovoid-globose, 
Mn. long. — F. v. M. Fragm. vi. 222 ; Meissn. in DC. Prod. xiv. 331 ; P. tniwo- 
soides, A. Cunn. Herb. 
Hab.. Islands of the Gulf of Carpentaria, P. Brown ; Cape York, Daemel ; Dayman’s Island, 
Endeavour Straits, IF. Hill ; Endeavour River, A. Cunningham , IF. Hill ; Estuary of the 
Burdekin, E. Fitzalan ; Kennedy District, 11. Daintree ; Edgecombe and Rockingham Bays, 
J. Dallachij ; Cape and Bowen Rivers, E. Bowman; Annan River, Dr. IV. E. Both; Mitchell 
River, E. Palmer; Etheridge, IF. E. Armit. 
Fruit eaten. — Roth and Palmer. 
Wood light with a reddish centre, hard and close-grained. — Bailey's Cat. Ql. Woods, Xo. 325 
2. P. media (medium), R. Br. Prot. Nov. 16; Benth. FI. Austr. v. 391. 
“ Geebung,” “Koombarra,” Stradbroke Island, Watkins. A tall erect shrub, the 
young branches ferruginous-pubescent. Leaves lanceolate or almost elliptical, 
sometimes oblique or slightly falcate, acuminate or acute, contracted into a short 
petiole, 2 to 4in. long, flat, thin and glabrous, very obliquely veined. Pedicels 
axillary, 1 to 2 lines long, ferruginous or glabrous, solitary or very rarely 
irregularly clustered. Perianth fully five lines long, pubescent with short 
appressed hairs, the segments tipped with short subulate points. Anther connec- 
tive not produced beyond the cells. Ovary more or less silky-hirsute but usually 
much less so than in P. ferrurjinea and P. cornifolia and the hairs sometimes 
almost disappearing, the stipes glabrous ; style enlongated, with a terminal 
stigma ; ovules 2. — Meissn. in DC. Prod. xiv. 342. 
Hab.: Brisbane River, Islands of Moreton Bay, and other southern localities. 
Wood of a light colour, close in grain and firm ; might prove useful for tool handles. It 
somewhat resembles the English Beech, and may prove as serviceable to musical instrument 
makers. — Bailey's Cat. Ql. Woods, Xo. 326. 
3. P. cornifolia (Cornus-leaved), A. Cunn. R. Br. Prot. Nov. 16 ; Benth. FI. 
Austr. v. 392. A tall erect shrub, the branches pubescent, the young leaves 
ciliate on the margins and sometimes pubescent, the adult foliage glabrous. 
Leaves from broadly obovate or ovate to elliptical-oblong or even broadly 
lanceolate, acute when narrow or obtuse when broad, usually mucronate, con- 
tracted into a very short petiole, mostly 1 to 2in. long, flat, rather rigid, the 
midrib slightly prominent and sometimes obscurely and very obliquely veined. 
Pedicels solitary in the axils or clustered on a very short axillary branch with the 
floral leaves reduced or abortive, sometimes very short, rarely 2 to 3 lines long. 
Perianth shortly silky-pubescent, 5 to 6 lines long, without points to the segments. 
