ee ee ee ee eee Tee 
Tas. 6075. 
XAN THORRHGA QUADRANGULATA. 
Native of South Australia. 
Nat. Ord. Juncem.—Tribe XERoTIDED. 
Genus Xantoorrua@a, Smith ; (Endl. Gen. Plant., p. 152). 
XANTHORRHG@A quadrangulata ; trunco arboreo, foliis gracilibus e basi paulo 
dilatato glaberrimo filiformibus rectangule tetraquetris glaucis angulis 
scaberulis, scapo 2-6 pedali, spica 3-4 pedali, bracteis numerosis angustis 
apice rhombeo-dilatatis acuminatis, sepalis albis paulo longioribus equa- 
libus anguste spathulatis obtusis v. cuspidatis valvatis; petalis, lineari- 
oblongis obtusis cuspidatis, staminibus longe exsertis divaricatis, capsula 
perianthio longiore. 
XANTHORRH@A quadrangulata, F. Muell. Fragment. Plant. Austral., vol. iv. 
Dp. ii]. 
The Grass-gum trees are amongst the most remarkable 
vegetable features of that country of wonderful vegetableforms, 
Australia; and it is with great satisfaction that we now 
figure in the Botanic Magazine a second species of a genus so 
rare in cultivation. It is a native of South Australia, where 
it inhabits rocky hill-ranges, and was sent to Kew by Dr. 
Schomburgk, the energetic Director of the Adelaide Botanic 
Garden. Shortly after its arrival, the trunk which is 
four feet high, slowly developed its fresh green leaves, 
which steadily increased in number and length till the plant 
had the appearance given in the plate; the flower-stem and 
‘Typha-like spike commenced to emerge about July of last 
year, and attained its full development in September, when 
the flowers began to expand from below upwards, and a full 
month elapsed before all had opened. During flowering time a 
copious honey-like secretion was exuded, which hung in great 
tear-like drops to the brown spike. A few of the ovaries 
have swollen, and indeed matured, but the seeds have not 
been fully formed. : 
Dr. Engelheart, of Gawlor-town, South Australia, an ardent 
Horticulturist, informs me that the Xanthorriwas, of which 
there are two species in that district (X. semiplanu and guad- 
JANUARY Ist, 1874. 
