| 42 | Mr. Brown, on the Proteaceae of Jussieu. |
the species, and most of them are described from specimens then in his Herbarium; five species are added which had already been published by the accurate Bergius; and three, P. totta, strobilina and parviflora, are here first met with: in his description of the last, he seems to suspect it to be a male plant, which we now certainly know to be the case. P. glomerata is here again taken up; but Protea acaulis, cancellata and conocarpa are omitted; and Protea conifera of the second edition of the Species Plantarum is subdivided into three species, P. conifera, pallens and saligna.
In the thirteenth edition of the Systema Vegetabilium published in 1774, the essential character of the genus is adapted to its present state, and no alteration occurs among the species, except that P. speciosa is considered as a variety of P. Lepidocarpodendron.
From this statement it appears, that Linnæus in his earlier works had not sufficient materials for obtaining an accurate notion of this family; and hence that perpetual fluctuation of opinion concerning it, which has been now pointed out, and may in few words be recapitulated.
1st, He gave the genus Protea the same extent which he at length assigned to it in the Mantissa.
2dly, He limited it, leaving unnoticed that part to which at a latter period he exclusively applied the name.
3dly, He resumed his first opinion.
4thly, He subdivided it into two genera, giving them the same names which are adopted in the present paper.
5thly, He continued the subdivision but reversed the names, and for a reason, as it would seem, which is now known to be founded in error.
| And |
