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Transactions. 



7. Atriplex patula. 



Station. — (1.) H.C. : Isolated plants scattered all over the salt meadow, 

 some even down to the edges of the mud-flats. (2.) N.Br. : As at H.C. 

 (3.) Tu. : Otit in the grass meadow, and also in prostrate clumps on the 

 shingle-bank. 



Life Form.- — An annual herb, with main axis (30-60 cm. high) erect ; 

 but the branches crowded at its base are quite prostrate, and, as they mav 

 reach a length of 25 cm., the plant may occupy a considerable area. This 

 is the case in the damper portions of the meadow ; but in the higher stony 

 parts the plant is exceedingly stunted, scarcely ever exceeding 10 cm. In 

 striking contrast to this, specimens from the marshes may reach the height 

 of 90 cm., while the branches are correspondingly longer, and the lower 

 ones are ascending instead of being prostrate. 



. According to Cheeseman, the plant is green, but all those from the above 

 stations exliibited a reddish appearance, owing to colour in both stem and 

 leaves. 



Stem and branches are deeply grooved, and tomentum occurs in the 

 grooves. 



I ® I 



Fig. 1. — Variation in Leaves of Atriplex patula. 



Leaves 1-4 cm. long, in a more or less vertical position, generally oppo- 

 site ; but the upper ones may be alternate, very variable in shape, the upper 

 ones being almost linear or Unear-lanceolate, the lower ones hastate, while 

 there appear many transitions between these two types. They are shortly 

 petiolate, exstipulate, and have acute apices and entire or sparingly toothed 

 margins. Both upper and lower surfaces are covered with a mealy 

 tomentum. In the dried parts of the meadow the leaves are smaller and 

 very rarely hastate ; sometimes they are almost sessile. In the marshes 

 the leaves reach their greatest size, and have the typical hastate shape. 



The main root is fairly stout, and has numerous secondary branches. 



8. Salicornia australis. 



Station. — (1.) H.C. : (a.) In the channels, sometimes almost completely 

 submerged, (b.) Very abundant in the salt meadow, even in the driest 

 parts, associated with the other typical plants of the meadow, though 

 perhaps the dominant species, (c.) On the edge of the mud-flats, beneath 

 the rushes. (2.) N.Br. : It occupies here much the same positions as at 

 H.C, but occurs also completely submerged in the brackish waters of the 

 pools at some distance from the river itself. (3.) Tu. : Crowding out 

 almost all vegetation, except Cotula cwonopifolia, for some acres round the 

 lagoon and the stream which enters it. 



Life Form. — A perennial semi-fruticose plant with numerous spreading 

 succulent branches which may be quite prostrate, procumbent, ascending, 

 or stiffly erect. 



