BY A. H. S. LUCAS. . 419 



the bottom of the pond, and formed capsules; and, in less than 

 a fortnight, the terrestrial portion had spread over the bank 

 (which was now and again inundated, when the pond was filled 

 up) and formed the fully developed, blue flowers. The number 

 of stamens was constantly 2, and, therefore, our plant must be 

 placed as G . s'pathulatwm Arnott. The other Australian species, 

 G. Drumviondii Benth., and G. elatinoides Benth., have 4 

 stamens. 



It was naturally a pleasure to have thus succeeded in obtaining 

 the normal flowers. Curiously, perhaps the only passage in the 

 severe pages of the Flora Australiensis which is "tinged with 

 emotion," occurs in relation with this plant. Bentham quotes a 

 remark of O'Shanesy, who gathered this species at Rockhampton, 

 that " the numerous little blue flowers look like tiny drops of 

 dew." (Vol. iv., p.502). 



We had thus succeeded in inducing flowering in both plants. 

 In a submerged state, they do not produce a distinct calyx, 

 petals or stamens, but freely produce capsules. To test the 

 fertility of the seeds produced in the submerged capsules of 

 Glossostiyma, I asked Mr. Brooks to sow the seeds. He placed 

 some in soil exposed to air, and dropped some on to the soil at 

 the bottom of a tank containing water. Both sets germinated, 

 the latter with extreme freedom. 



Thus habitual parthenogenesis is seen to occur in Glossostiyma 

 spalhulatum — so long as the plant remains entirely submerged. 

 When the plants obtain a footing on mud uncovered with water, 

 they will develop flowers in the season, and produce ovules 

 fertilised in the usual way. . Incidentally, we may find a reason- 

 able answer to Mr. Brooks' original question in regard to Elatine. 

 The submerged plant tends to break up into fragments or sections 

 in the season proper for flowering. These fragments float, and, 

 as we saw in the pond in the Centennial Park, under natural 

 conditions will have a chance of reaching a mooring ground, and 

 thus of attaining to a terrestrial habitat convenient for flowering. 



We have not yet experimented with the seeds of Elatine, pro- 

 duced in the submei"ged capsules, but the mature form of the 

 seeds found makes it nearly certain that they are fertile. 



