Mimetes
(from mimos, a mimic; referring to its resemblance to an allied genus). Including Orothamnus. ORD. Proteaceoe. A genus comprising fourteen species of greenhouse, evergreen shrubs, natives of South Africa. Flower-heads hermaphrodite; perianth narrow, often incurved; limb ovoid or oblong. Nuts sessile, ovoid, glabrous. Leaves few, sessile, entire, or rarely dentate at apex. The undermentioned species, probably the only one yet introduced, thrives in a peat and loam soil, with plenty of moisture. Cuttings of the ripened shoots should be taken, towards autumn, or in the spring, before growth commences, and inserted in sand, under a glass, without bottom heat--at least, until a swelling occurs at their base.
M. Zeyheri (Zeyher's). fl.-heads one to three or more at the extremity of a branch, drooping; bracts glabrous, similar to the leaves; leaves of involucre petaloid, rose-red, veined, villous; laciniae of the calyx villous. July. l. alternate on the branches, sessile, imbricated, numerous, entire, elliptic, membranous, externally convex, within concave, 1in. to 1 1/2in. long, margined with purple. h. 6ft. to 8ft. (B. M. 4357, under name of Orothamnus Zeyheri.)