PR1NGLEA 
546 
papillae. It still retains traces of its descent from entomophilous 
ancestors; for while on the great part of the island it is devoid of 
petals, it occurs abundantly in shaded places with petals” (Muller). 
Prinos Gronov. ex Linn. = Ilex Tourn. 
Prionium E. Mey. Juncaceae. 1 sp. Cape Col., P. Palmita E. Mey. 
(P. serratum Buchen.), the Palmiet, a shrubby aloe-like plant with a 
stem 1 — 2 metres high, covered with the fibrous remains of old leaves. 
It grows on the edges of streams, sometimes almost blocking them up. 
Vegetative propagation takes place by the formation of runners. Ad- 
ventitious roots are formed between the leaves. [See Buchenau in 
Bibliotheca Botanica , No. 27.] 
Pritchardia Seem, et H. Wendl. (excl. Washingtonia H. Wendl.). 
Palmae (1. 2). 5 sp. west U.S., Sandwich Is. 
Priva Adans. Verbenaceae (11). 10 sp. trop. and subtrop. The leaves 
of P. echinata Juss. are used in Am. as tea. The tubers of P. laevis 
Juss. are edible. 
Proboscidea Schmid. - Martynia Houst. 
Procris Comm, ex Juss. Urticaceae (2). 5 sp. trop. 
Prosopis L. Leguminosae (1. 4). 25 sp. trop. and subtrop. Some are 
xerophytes, without leaves. Many are thorny, the thorns being 
epidermal, or metamorphosed branches or stipules. P. julijlora DC. 
is the mezquit tree. P. alba Griseb. has sweet succulent pods (Alga- 
roba blanca), used as food. 
Prostanthera Labill. Labiatae (11). 40 sp. Austr. 
Protea Linn. Proteaceae (1). 60 sp. Cape Colony. Firs, in showy 
heads, often with coloured bracts. 
Proteaceae. Dicotyledons (Archichl. Proteales). 50 gen. with 960 sp. 
“which have a very characteristic distribution; there are in Austr. 
591, trop. E. As. 25, New Caled. 27, N. Z. 2, Chili 7, trop. S. Am. 36, 
south-west Cape Col. 262, Madag. 2, Mts. of trop. Afr. 5 ” (Engler). 
A consideration of the above figures will show that the great majority 
of the order lives in regions where there is annually a long dry season. 
Correlated with this is the fact that these plants are mostly of xero- 
phytic habit (p. 163). They are nearly all shrubs and trees with 
entire or much-divided exstip. leaves, which have commonly a thick 
cuticle and often a covering of hairs further to check transpiration. 
They also exhibit in their internal anatomy various xerophytic 
characters (see Nat . /)?.). The firs, are borne in racemes, spikes, 
heads &c., and are often very showy; it is noteworthy that many 
have their pollen freely exposed, though they are not wind-fertilised 
— another peculiarity connected with their life in a dry climate 
(compare the Acacias of Australia). 
The firs, are usually g , often zygomorphic. Perianth (4), corol- 
line, valvate ; the leaves commonly bent or rolled back when open ; 
sta. 4, inserted on the tepals, and usually with only the anthers free; 
G i» ovules many or few or one, pendulous or not, the micropyle 
