Proteaceae.
No where is the many-faced appearance, from which these plants derive their name, more conspicuous than at the Swan River, where they are extremely numerous, and to a great extent different from those of the rest of the continent. No one would suspect the genus Conospermum to belong to the order at all, until after a minute examination, for while the majority of the species with their long woolly panicled irregular flowers have altogether a peculiar aspect, C. acerosum136 might be mistaken for a Colletia; and C. glumaceum137 has altogether the appearance of some Bupleurum with great membranous bracts. Stirlingia simplex140 resembles a Sanicula, and many of the species with capitate flowers have greatly the character of a Composite inflorescence. As to the Hakeas and Grevilleas, of which there are many, their leaves are so varied and peculiar that a young Botanist might be excused for mistaking them for ferns, or Cycadaceæ.
As this order is so important a part of the vegetation of the Colony, and more likely than any other to find its way into gardens, it is desirable to notice the new species in rather more detail that has generally been done in this little sketch.
Anadenia consists of plants whose leaves are their chief
(136) Conospermum acerosum; foliis acerosis pungentibus glaberrimis, pedunculis axillaribus solitariis tomentosis foliis multò brevioribus, capitulis paucifloris, bracteis cucullatis mucronatis calycibusque glabris.
(137) Conospermum glumaceum; glabrum, caule ramoso, foliis linearibus uninerviis falcatis mucronatis, floribus paniculatis intra capitula glumacea inclusis, bracteis lanceolatis imbricatis nervatis coloratis, rachi villosâ, ovario piloso.
(138) Conospermum sclerophyllum; minutissimè pubescens, caule paniculato, foliis teretibus apice conicis sphacelatis, pedunculis axillaribus foliis duplò longioribus e spicis alternis, rachibus calycibusq. lanatis.
(139) Conospermum incurvum; caule fruticoso dichotomo pubescente, foliis filiformibuspatentibus canaliculatis incurvis glabris, pedunculis apice racemosis et paniculatis terminalibus angulatis distanter squamatis rachibusque glabris, pedicellis calycibusque villosissimis galeâ calva.—C. distielio affinis.
(140) Stirlingia simplex; pedunculis elongatis indivisis, capitulis multifloris, bracteis exterioribus ovato-lanceolatis acutis.
(141) Stirlingia paniculata; scapo paniculato multifloro, capitulis 5-9-floris, foliis ter bipartiis: laciniis lineari-lanceolatis planis apice callosis.
