This gigantic plant is by far the largest species of Solanum at present known. Our figure represents upper part of a plant that was twelve feet high, and the only one that ever flowered in this kingdom, in the collection of A. B. Lambert, esq. who informed me that the radical leaves measured fifteen inches in breadth and twenty in length. There is but one figure of it extant, and that is in the Icones of Cavanilles, who knew not whence it was indigenous: but it is supposed to be a native of South America. It thrives best against the shelter of a south wall in summer, but in winter requires the protection of the green-house. We have seen two plants of it in the collection at Holland-house, the enormous size of whose foliage then indicated an equal magnitude with our plant when they arrive at a flowering state. At present it is very scarce, and likely so to continue from the extreme fetidity of the foliage. Upon burning a piece of the stalk, it displayed such a nitrous appearance as indicated it to be very strongly impregnated with saltpetre. [Illustration] PLATE DXII. PROTEA PINNATA. _Winged-leaved Protea._ CLASS IV. ORDER I. _TETRANDRIA MONOGYNIA._ Four Chives. One Pointal. ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER. COROLLA 4-fida, seu 4-petala. Antheræ lineares, petalis infra apices insertæ. Calyx proprius, nullus. Semina solitaria. BLOSSOM four-cleft, or of four petals. Tips linear, inserted into the petals below the points. Cup proper, none. Seeds solitary. SPECIFIC CHARACTER. PROTEA pinnata: floribus glomeratis, capitatis, terminalibus: corollis rubris, pilosis. Habitat ad Caput Bonæ Spei. PROTEA with winged leaves: flowers grow in round terminal heads: blossoms red and hairy. Native of Cape of Good Hope. REFERENCE TO THE PLATE. 1. The flower prop. 2. A blossom with one tip magnified. 3. Seed-bud and pointal, summit magnified. This new species of Protea resembles in its flowers the P. glomerata, in its foliage the P. argentiflora, but altogether is very different from either. Like most of the genus, it is slow in growth, and remains a long time in perfection. Our drawing was made at the Hibbertian collection the summer before last. We also observed it again last year, very near unfolding its flowers; but being later in the autumn than usual, most probably prevented their expansion. We are inclined to think this species is rather tender, and, like too many of this extensive family, requires great care and attention to preserve: a circumstance that most likely prevents their being in that request which their beauty and versatility would otherwise command. [Illustration] PLATE DXIII. CACTUS HEXAGONUS. _Great Torch Thistle._ CLASS XII. ORDER I. _ICOSANDRIA MONOGYNIA._ About 20 Chives. One Pointal. ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER. CALYX monophyllus, superus, imbricatus. Corolla multiplex. Bacca monolocularis, polysperma.