AUSTRALIAN PLANTS. 35 



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calyx. Filaments alternately shorter. Anthers erect, inappcndiculate, 

 fixed at the base, bilocular, cells bursting longitudinally. Style simple. 

 Stigma deeply five-cleft, with filiform or clavate lobes. Gernmis five, 

 concrete, with gemmulse affixed to the central angle. CarpeU five, to- 

 mentose, one-seeded. Seeds strophiolate. 



Australian shrubs, resembling species of Fkehalium, covered with 

 stellate hairs, in allusion to which the generic name has been formed. 



This splendid genus is exactly intermediate between Chorili^na and 

 Geleznotvia. It differs from the former in its inflorescence, smooth fila- 

 ments, basifixed anthers, and smallness or absence of petals. Through 

 the last character it approaches to Geleznotcia, but the stigma of the 

 latter is undivided, orbicular ; and this cliaracter is supported by its 

 very different habit. 



Three species have been Hitherto discovered. 



85. Asterolasia pheballoides, F. Muell. ; branched; leaves sessile, 

 oblong or obcordate-euneate, retuse, on both sides tomentose, with flat 

 margins ; sepals golden-yellow, exceeding twice or three times the 

 length of the carpidia ; petals wanting ; lobes of the stigma filiform, 

 only a little shorter than the hairy style ; seeds opaque. 



Hab. On the stony declivities of the Grampians, the Serra and 

 Victoria Ranges, particularly frequent on Mount Sturgeon and Mount 

 xibrupt. 



36. Asterolasia trymalioideSy F. Muell. ; much branched; leaves co- 

 riaceous, ovate, on. short petioles, above glabresceut, beneath tomen- 

 tose, with revolute margins ; sepals of equal length with the carpidia, 

 twice or three times longer than the petals ; lobes of the stigma cla- 

 vate, much shorter than the smooth style; seeds shining. 



Hab, On the rocky summits of the Cobboras Mountains, in the 

 Australian Alps, at an elevation of more than 6000 feet. 



37. Asterolasia cliorilanoides, F. Muell.; much branched; leaves 

 veiy spreading, sessile, coriaceous, with revolute margins, terete-linear, 

 smooth above and veluthious beneath ; flowers small, capitate, fur- 

 nished with bracteoles ; sepals glabrous, of equal length with the car- 

 pels ; petals wanting ; filaments villous below the middle ; style glabrous ; 

 stigma minute, undivided ; seeds opaque, tuberculate. 



Hab. On dry coast-ridges near Lake Hamilton, in South Australia, 

 a mihelmi. 



Anomalous in producing bracts and a simple sti^^ma, yet not to be 



