108 XI, BixiNE/E. \_XylomuL 



h 



A genus widely dispersed over the tropical and subtropical regions of the new and tlic old 

 world. Tlic only Australian species is endemic. 



1. X. ovatum, BeutJi. Glabrous in all its parts, the branches short and 

 slender, rongh with lenticels, and, in our specimens, without thorns. Leaves 

 mostly ovate, obtuse, about I-2- in, long, quite entire, narrowed into a very 

 short petiole, thinly coriaceous, With numerous fine reticulate veins ; a few 

 lower leaves short and almost orbicular, and the upper ones narrow. Male 11. 

 not seen. Female fl. very small, 5 or 6 together in very short axillary racemes. 

 Pedicels about 1 line long, in the axils of small, ovate, ciliate bracts. Sepals 

 4, orbicular, ciliate, about ^ line long. Disk deeply lobed or divided. Ovary 

 ovoid, conical, but scarcely tapering into a distinct style, with a broad, thick, 

 slightly 2-lobed stigma. Placentas 3, very prominent, forming a complete 

 dissepiment above the insertion of the ovules, but far from meeting below. 

 Ovules 2 to each placenta. 



Queensland. N.E. coast, il. CunniiujJiam, 



This appears to come nearest to X orbiculatum, Forst., which, judging from T'iji Island 

 specimens, has a similar almost sessile stij^ma, bat its leaves are much larger and broader, 

 and the ovajy has 3 placentas, a 3-lobed stigma, and more than two ovules to each pla- 

 centa. 



4? STREPTOTHAMNUS, F. Muell. 



Flowers hermaphrodite. Sepals 5, imbricate. Petals 5, much longer than 

 the sepals. Stamens indefinite. Anthers oblong-linear, tipped by a small 

 point, the cells opening longitudinally. Ovary with parietal placentas and 

 numerous ovules ; style filiform, with a peltate entire stigma. Fruit a berry. 

 Seeds several, with a hard testa. Embryo very small, at the base of a copious 

 albumen. — Glabrous twiners. Leaves alternate, pctiolate, entire, 3-nerved. 

 Peduncles axillary, 1-flowered. 



The genns is limited to Australia. It differs from all BUlnea, and'approachcs Pitto- 

 sj^orett in its climbing habit and very small embryo, whilst the floral characters bring it 

 nearer to the tribe Oncobece of Bixinece. The specimens I have seen have so very few 

 flowers that I have been unable to dissect any myself, and have taken the characters from 

 F. Mueller. 



leaves green on both sides. Disk none 1. 'S. Moorei. 



Leaves i>ale or whitish underneath. DL-^k toothed 2, 5. Beckleru 



1. B.lKow^x^F. Muell, Tmgm.\\\,'l^. A perfectly glabrous twiner. 

 Leaves broadly ovate or obscurely cordate, acute or shortly acuminate, 3 to 3 

 in. long, quite entire, 3-nerved from the base, scarcely paler underneath than 

 above, on petioles of | to 1 in. Pedicels about as long as the petioles, 1- 

 flowered. Sepals broad, about 1 line long, persistent. Petals 2" or 3 times 

 as long, rather broad. Stamens very numerous ; filaments shorter than the 

 anthers. Berry nearly 1 iu. long. Seeds ovoid-globular, about \\ line dia- 

 meter, embedded in pulp. 



N. S. "Wales. Claixnce river, C. Moore, 



2. S. Beckleri, il 3fiielL Fragm. iii. 28. Closely resembles the last 

 species, but dlifers in the rather more acuminate leaves, paler underneath, a 

 deciduous calyx, the ovary suiTounded by a several-toothed disk, a rather 

 longer style, and a more ovoid berry, with smaller seeds. Plowers unknown. 



W. S. ^Vales. Clai'ence and Hastings rivcrS; Beckler. 



