Proustia
(named after Proust, a Spanish chemist, who died in 1826). ORD. Compositae. A genus consisting of six or seven species of stove or greenhouse, erect or climbing, hoary-tomentose or glabrous, sometimes spiny shrubs, natives of South America and Mexico. Flower-heads small, sessile, homogamous, disposed in much-branched or thyrsoid panicles at the ends or sides of the branches; receptacle naked; corolla bilabiate, with the segments revolute, the outer three-or four-toothed, the inner lip deeply two-parted; achenes turbinate or oblong, five-ribbed, with a pappus of copious setae. The under-mentioned species--the only one yet in cultivation--is a desirable greenhouse climber. For culture, see Mutisia.
P. pyrifolia (Pyrus-leaved).* fl.-heads white; pappus purple. l. petiolate, round-cordate or oval, tomentose beneath; adult ones coriaceous, densely tomentose beneath, entire or irregularly toothed. Chili, 1865. (B. M. 5489.)