On the cultivation of the plants belonging to the natural order of Proteeae/Adenanthes
Adenanthes. Labill.
Flores 1-rii; in Capitulis pedunculatis, axillaribus terminalibusque. Bractea 6–12, in Involucrum imbricatæ, persistentes; præter 2 ad basin pedunculi. Petala inferne ventriculosa, inde varie libera; antico angustiore, nunc sterili. Nectaria 4, oblonga. Pericarpium 1-spermum. Frutices: foliis integric decompositisque. | Flower 1-ry; in axillary and terminal peduncled Heads. Bractes 6–12, imbricated into an Involucrum, persistent; besides 2 at the base of the peduncule. Petals ventricose below, then separated; front one narrow, in some barren. Nectaries 4, oblong. Pericarpium 1-seeded. Shrubs: leaves entire and subdivided. |
The name is derived from two Greek words αδην ανθοσ; on account of the glandular nectaries.
Flabellifolia,
A. cuneata. Labill. Nov. Holl. v. 1. p. 29. t. 37. Fan-leaved Adenanthes.
From the West coast of New Holland where Labillardiere discovered it. Leaves simple, broadly obcuneate, very few quite entire, the rest bitten off in 3 to 5 teeth, silky. Involucrum of 4 or 6 Bractes.
Obovata,
A. obovata. Labill. Nov. Holl. v. 1. p. 29. t. 87. Obovate Adenanthes.
Mr. A. Menzies discovered this species, at King George's Sound, before Labillardiere was upon the coast. Leaves simple, obovate, quite entire: nerves 3 with a few lateral ones, but none of them so strong as they appear in the figure above quoted. Involucrum of 6 or 8 Bractes. Petals besprinkled with resinous glands as in many Serrurias.
Sericea,
A. sericea. Labill. Nov. Holl. v. 1. p. 29. f. 38. Silky Adenanthes.
This species was also discovered by Mr. A. Menzies, at King George's Sound, and is not unlike Paranomus Argenteus, its silky leaves being 2-pinnatifid with very narrow divisions. Involucrum of 10 or 12 Bractes. I believe none of these curious shrubs are in this country.