BY R. T. BAKER. 227 



are pistilLate, the remainder having both stamens and pistil as 

 well as staminodia or pistil and staminodia. These staminodia 

 are strap-shaped and in some flowers are regularly 5 in number, 

 so that they were at first regarded as linear petals, but their 

 absence in a few flowers having only a pistil, led to their finally 

 being determined as staminodia, — organs not recorded in connec- 

 tion with any other Actinotus, although Bentham (B.Fl. iii. 369) 

 mentions under A. bellidioides "petals none (or sometimes 

 linear ?); and probably it was organs similar to those now shown 

 to occur in this species that he found in his species, and was in 

 doubt as to their true significance. 



In no instance were five perfect stamens found in a flower, 

 although very many were examined, the usual number being two, 

 along with staminodia. It was thought at first that the anthers 

 had become detached, but the evidence was opposed to this con- 

 clusion, as the filaments bearing the anthers tapered upwards to 

 a fine point to the" back of the anther, and no such similar 

 filaments could be found, the other organs, the staminodia, 

 expanding upwards and being quite obtuse at the top, and wanting 

 in proof that they had ever performed the function of filaments. 



The disc mentioned in connection with other species is entirely 

 absent in the flowers of this plant; the pistil is bifurcated almost 

 from the base, the arms being short and comparatively thick. 



The above floral features alone difi'erentiate the species from 

 the more recently described species such as A. Gihhonsii, F.v.M., 

 A. Schwarzii, F.v.M., and A. Forsythii, Maiden k, Betche, and as 

 well as from those species enumerated in the 'Flora Australiensis ' 

 (Vol. iii. p. 367). The junction of the strongly-nerved involucre 

 bracts for one-half their length, and the concave base, are also 

 good distinguishing features of the species. A. Gibbonsii is a 

 much more delicate plant with greener leaves, smaller sessile 

 umbels and bracts and different floral organs and tomentum. 



In botanical sequence it might be placed between A. bellidioides 

 and A. gloryieratus, the staminodia connecting it with the former, 

 althousfh it has not much in common with the latter. 



