CoIobant/iHs,] 



f 



XVI. CARYOPIIYLLE/E. 



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1 



ones; others have more elongated stems, and less rigid leaves; and the TTermIt Island 

 specimens have always 4-merous flowers; whilst in all others they arc ustially, if not always, 

 5-inerous. 



2. C. Billardieri, Fmzl,in Ann. Mns. Find, i. 49. A small, densely 

 tufted, almost stcmless perennial. Loaves in closely crowded tufts, linear-subu- 

 late, sometimes very rigid and not ^ in. long, more frequently 1 in. long or 

 more, somewhat flaccid, 1 line broad and sliealhing at the base, and attennafed 

 into a long point, sometimes filiform and grass-like, ^ to 1 in. long. Peduncles 

 l-flowered from the centre of the Icaf-tufts, shorter or longer than the leaves, 

 but always longer than the calyx, sliglitly thickened under the flower. Sepals 5, 

 broadly lanceolate, very finely pointed, about 2 lines long. Capsule from glo- 

 bular to ovoid, shorter or longer than tjie calyx. — Hook. f. Fh Tasm. i. 45 ; 

 r. Mnell. ri. Vict. i. 212; Spergnla apttala,^ l.^hWX. PI. Nov. Holl. i. 112. 

 t. 142 ; DC. Prod. i. 395 ; Spergnla affinl% Hook. Ic. PI. t. 2GG ; Colobau- 

 thus offiuis, Hook. f. in Hook. Journ. Bot. ii. 410, and FI. Tasm. i. 45! 



Victoria. Rocky hills near ^Varuamhool, Hannaford, 



Tasmania, LahiUardiere ; Keiit's Gronp, Boss's Straits, 'R. Brown; northern and rcn- 

 trnl 2)arts of the island, alpine districts of the Hampshire Irills, and Frauklyn river, /. D, 

 Hooker; Southport, C. Stuart. 



Two forms have been described, but they pass very much one inio the other, the Jif- 

 fcreuces in the form of the capsuK^s not corrcspondin"; with the variations in the leaves, 

 "he species occurs also in New Zealand and in Campbell's Island. 



^ SperoH/a arvetrsis, Linn. ; DC. Prod. i. 394. A slender annual, branching at the base 

 into several erect or ascending stems, 6 in. to 1 ft. high, glabrous or slightly pubescent. 

 Leaves ahnost subulate, 1 to 2 in. long, in opposite clusters and spreading so as to appear 

 verticillatc. Stipules scarious, very minute, sometimes very difficult to sec. Plowcrs small, 

 ^'hite, on long pedicels, in terminal forked cymes. Sepals 5. Petals 5, undivided, gene- 

 rally rather shorter than the calyx. Stamens JO, or occasionally 5 or fewer. Styles 5, 

 alternate with the sepals. Capsule AtitiAy 5-valved. Seeds slightly Hattened, with or wilh- 

 out a scarious border. 



Common in Europe and temperate Asia in cultivated and waste places, and now dispersed 

 over various parts of the world as a cornfield weed, and introduced as such into the Austra- 

 ban colonies, especially Swau River, Brummond. 



7. SPEEGI7LARIA, Pers. 



(Lepigonum, Files) 



Sepals 5. Petals 5, entire- or rarely 0. 

 Capsule 3-valved. 



Stamens 10 or fesver. Styles 3. 



, Herbs nsnally diftiise. Leaves linear or filiform, often 



clustered in the axils so as to appeiu* vertieillate. Stipules small, scarious. 

 Flowers pedicelLato, pink or white, in the forks of the stem or in terminal 

 ^ymes or one-sided racemes. Seeds with or without a scarious border. 



A small genus, widely dispersed over the temperate or subtropical regions of the globe, 

 ™efly in maritime or saline localities, or heathy places, differing from Jrevarta almost 

 solely iu the presence of stipules. U'he Australian species is the same as the common 

 northern one. 



1- S. rubra, Pers. Syn. i. 504 (as a subgenus of Jrefiana). An 

 annual, biennial or rarely perennial, glabrous or with a short viscid pubescence 

 in the upper parts, with numerous stems branching from the base and forming 

 spreading or prostrate tufts 3 or 4 in., or when luxurinnt 6 in. lonir. Leaves 

 Tiarrow-linear, the scarious stipules at the base short but 



nr 



VOL. I. 



conspicuous 



M 



