PLATE 75.--Fig. 1, flower; Fig. 2, bract; Fig. 3, stamen; Fig. 4, cross-section of ovary; Fig. 5, gynaecium; Fig. 6, outer perianth-segments, front and side views; Fig. 7, inner perianth-segments, front and side views.
PROTEA, _Linn._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. iii. p. 169.
=Protea recondita=, _Buek. 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 Cedarberg Range, Clanwilliam Division, where it was collected by Drège 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, subacuminate, obtuse, ciliate; the inner oblong, incurved, somewhat 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 hairs; style 4 cm. long, strongly falcate; stigma 3 mm. long, almost imperceptibly passing into the style.
PLATE 76.--Fig. 1, branch with flower head; Fig. 2, receptacle; Fig. 3, inner bract; Fig. 4, outer bract; Fig. 5, single flower; Fig. 6, one perianthlobe.
CROSSANDRA, _Salisb._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen Plant._ vol. ii. p. 1094.