V. 



14;2 ' XIV. poLYGALEiK. [Comesjjemu. 



snle is narrowed at the base, without finy caruncle at the hilunij hut the raphe 

 often expanded into a caruncular appendage at the opposite end. — Herbs 

 undershrubs or slirubs, erect or twining. Leaves alternate^ usually sraalL 

 Racemes terminal. 



A strictly Australian genus, with which was formerly united the Brazilian Bredemeyera {Ca- 

 tocoma, Beuth.) ; but, besides the difference in habit, the latter has a more or less fleshy 

 capsule, and the seeds have a long coma proceeding from the hilum ; whilst iu Comespenna^ 

 the coma, when present, consists of the hairs of the testa, which always extend to the base 

 of the capsule, although the seed is often not half so long. Iu 2 species the capsule is that 

 of a Fohjgala, and the seeds have no coma ; but in those the insertion of the lateral petal?, 

 very different from that of Folygala and approaching that of Monnina, is strongly marked. 

 In P. mlvMlis (which was chiefly taken into account in verifying the characters for onr 

 * Genera Plantarum '), the arrangement of the petals is nearer to that of Polj/gala, but there 

 the carpological characters are very decided. Besides that, the genus Comesperma is so na- 

 tural a one, that it is never liable to be confounded with any of those allied to it in struc- 

 ture. The precise arrangement of the petals in the smaller-flowered species, very ditftcult 

 to ascertain iu dried specimens, requires veritication from the living plant. 



Capsule sessile. Seeds filling the cells, without a coma. Stems 

 leafless. (Sect. Prostbemosperma, F. Muell?^ 

 Capsule orbicular. Flowers in a short terminal raceme . . . , 1, C. sj)h(erocarpuT , 

 Capsule obovate or cuneate. Flowers distant. 



Branches erect, rigid, broom-like. Seed w ith a broad terminal 



membrane . . • , 2. C.scoparzum. 



Branches very slender, divai-icatCj intricately branched. Seed 



with a long terminal appendage 3. C aplnjlhim. 



Brunches divai-icate, thorny. Seeds without any appendage . . 4. C spinosum. 

 Capsule narrowed into a stipes, containing the long coma of the seeds, 

 which only occupy the broad part of the cells. 

 Outer sepals allfree^ much shorter than the wings. 

 Branches twining or very short and almost leafless. 

 Leaves few, mostly obtuse. Capsule not winged. 



Flowers blue or white. Pedicels glabrous ..... 5. C.volubile,^ 



Flowers yellow. Pedicels pubescent T, C. integerrimnm. 



Leaves very few and small, acute, ciliate. Bracts ciliate. Cap- 

 sule winged. Flowers blue 6. C. ciliatum. 



Stems erect, leafv. 



Leaves fiat, ovate or oblong. 

 Pubescent. 



Leaves small, broadly ovate, mucronate, crowded. Flowers 



1 to li lines 8. C semndum. ^ 



Leaves thick, oblong, obtuse 9. C. BrummondiL 



Glabrous. 



Leaves mucronate, very glaucous 11. C. syhesfre. 



Leaves obtuse, green ♦ , 10. C. retumn. 



Leaves linear. 



Leaves pungent, strongly keeled. Keel-petal horned . . 12. C. acerosum. 

 Leaves with revolutc margins. Keel-petal not horned . . 13. C. ericimn. 

 Leaves very narrow, almost terete. 



Racemes elongated. Bracts comose. Flowers bine . . U. C. confcrtutn. 



Racemes corymbose or conical. Bracts very minute. 



Flowers yellow 15. C.flavum. 



Outer sepals all free, nearly as long as the mvgs, (Sect. Iso- 

 calyx, Steetz.) 



Stems leafy. 



Capsule narrowed into a long stipes 16. C. cahjmega. 



Capsule elliptical or oblauceolate, shortlv naiTowed at the 



base ; 17. a lanceclatim. 



