Tas. 6056, 
PHILYDRUM GLABERRIMUM. 
Native of the Pacific Islands ? 
Nat. Ord. Pumyprea. 
Genus Puityprum, Banks; (Endl. Gen. Pl., p. 133). 
Puityprum glaberrimum ; foliis ensiformibus, inflorescentia paniculata alba, 
bracteis lanceolatis acuminatis, perianthii foliolis recurvis 2 exterioribus 
subequalibus ovato-oblongis obtusis, lateralibus multo minoribus 
staminis filamento brevi crasso, anthera oblonga loculis rectis v. paulo 
incurvis connectivo dorso rubro, stylo gracili, ovario glaberrimo. 
The natural order to which this plant belongs has hitherto 
been supposed to consist of but two species, belonging to as 
many genera, of which one, Heferia, is Australian, and the 
other, Philydrum lanuginosum (Tab. nost. 783), extends from 
eastern temperate Australia to China and the Malayan 
Peninsula. It was therefore with no small surprise that I 
received from Mr. Bull in May last living specimens of a 
plant which, on examination, proved to belong to this order, 
and to be so closely allied to the Philydrum lanuginosum in 
floral structure, as well as in habits and foliage, that I cannot 
consider its one divergent character, that of almost straight 
(not spirally-twisted) anther-cells, to have more than a sectional 
or subgeneric value, to which the name of Orthothylax may 
be attached. Unfortunately the native country of this very 
interesting discovery is not certainly known ; Mr. Bull 
having received it from Sydney in a box that contained both 
Australian and Pacific Island plants. Considering how well 
known the former Flora now is (thanks especially to Baron 
Mueller’s researches), and how little known are the Pacific 
Islands botanically, it is probable that this P/ilydrum comes 
from the latter. 
The genus Philydrum is a very remarkable one, on account 
of the dimerous perianth and’ monandrous flowers. The 
SEPTEMBER Ist, 1873. 
