164 
The vegetable system. 
5. PROLIFEROUS ETERNAL FLOWER. 
Plate 61 . Fig. 5. 
Character of the Species. Xeranthemum proliferum. 
I'he young Shoots rife in numbers from one Point : the 
Leaves hand clofe. 
Fig. 5. b. 
This alfo is an /Ethiopian, a beautiful Plant, with a woody Stem, 
and innumerable Branches. The Leaves are of a greyifli green, and 
the Flowers are white. 
6. DECUMBENT ETERNAL FLOWER. 
Plate 62. Fig. 6. 
CharavSler of the Species. Xeranthemum rctortum. 
The Stem is hard but decumbent: the Leaves are downy, 
and turn back. 
Fig. 6. a b. 
This is another of the woody Cape Plants, which fome have 
called Shrubs, tho’ without juft caufe. The feafons there are fo mild, 
that the Stalks remain from year to year ; and by remaining harden : 
a little fevere weather would kill them, and the Root only would re- 
main ; it would then Ihoot again in Spring, and the Stalks, not hav- 
ing more than one Summer’s duration, would be firm but not woody. 
This degree of hardnefs and permanency which is ov/ing more to the 
climate than the nature of the Plant, cannot make it a proper Shrub. 
It is common among the Cape Plants ; and being once explained, 
v/ill be always underftood hereafter. 
The Stalks of this Species are a yard long j they lie upon the 
ground. The Leaves are fmall and filvery ; the Flowers are white ; 
they have the fame glofs as the others of this kind, and are very 
beautiful. 
7. EDG’D- 
