Fohjcarp(sa?[ xvi. caryophylle.^, 1G7 



cent, and very nearly allied to P. corymhosa, but more slender and divaricately 

 brancliedj and at once known by its very much smaller flowers. Sepals 

 scarcely 1 line long, broader and less acuminate than in P. corymbom^ petals 

 much narrower, not so obtuse and usually denticulate at the top; stamens 

 much more perigynous ; capsule longer in proportion, occasionally even ex- 

 ceeding the sepals. 



W. Australia. N. coast, S. Brown; Gulf of Carpentaria, Z'. ^^/«^//^a 

 Queensland. Islands of Morcton Bay, F, Mueller ; Rockhainptou, Thozet. 



8. P. spicata, Am. in Ann. Nat, Hid. iii. 91. A small glabrous an- 

 nual, seldom attaining 6 in. and often not half that size. Radical leaves ro- 

 snlate, obovate or oblong, on long petioles. Stems several, decuml}ent or 

 erect,^with few spreading dichotomous or clustered slender branches. Leaves 

 under the branches in small false whorls, spathulate or obovate-oblong, 2 to 3 

 Hues long, including the petiole. Stipules short, broadly scarious, Avith a fine 

 pomt. Flowers small, white, iu small dense terminal cymes or heads, the 

 floral leaves all reduced to short obtuse scarious bracts. Sepals rather more 

 than 1 line long, scarious, the outer one with a broad thick centre, the others 

 ■^^'ith a narrow slightly thickened midrib. Petals very minute and subulate, 

 iilmost free from the short stamens. Style short. Capsule small, nearly 



globular. ^AVight, Ic. PL Ind. Or. t. 510; P. atatlc^rfomis, Steud. Norn. ed. 

 2, ii. 369. 



N. Australia. N.W. coast, Bf/)ioc. 



The species ranges over the sandy districts of Arabia and the East Iiuliau Peninsula. 



9. P. iuvolucrata, F, MuelL in Rep. Babb. Exped. 9, Pubescent, with 

 numerous erect or decumbent rigid dichotomous stems of 2 to 4 in. or rarely 

 twice that length. Radical leaves rosulate, oblong or nearly obovate, nar- 

 rowed into long petioles ; stem-leaves more sessile, narrow-oblong or lanceo- 

 late, ratlier rigid, obtuse or the upper ones acute, 2 to 4 lines long, the floral 

 ones in folse wdiorls of 4 to 8. llowcrs several together in sessile heads, in 

 the forks or at the ends of the branches, rarely exceeding the herbaceous floral 

 Jeaves. Sepals white, finely pointed, 2 to near 3 lines long; the outer ones 

 thickened and cartilaginous at the base. Petals oblong, about \ the length 

 of the sepals, slightly united witli the stamens in a ring at the base. Style 

 very short, with a capitate sliohtly furrowed stigma. Capsule small, ovoid- 

 globular, i ^ o ^ 



. *• Australia. Hooker's Creek. Start's Creek- and near the sources of the Victoria 

 '^ver, F. Mueller. 



Oeder XVXL PORTULACE-ai. 



in the 



Flowers regular, hermaphrodite. Sepals fewer than petals, usually 2, free 

 p ^^^'^'ly adnate to the ovary at the base, usually broad, imbricate iu the bixl. 



^t:tals 4 or 5, rarely more, hypogj-nous or rarely perigynous, imbricate i 



Y»d. Stamens inserted with the petals and often adhering to their base, of 

 |he same nuuiber or fewer and opposite to them or indefinite ; anthers 2-celled. 

 yvarj' free or rarely half-inferior, l-celled. Style more or less deeply divided 

 J|ito 3 or rarely 2 or more than 3 branches, stigmatic along t!iu inner side, 

 '-'^mes 2 or more, amphitropous, with an inferior micrup^yle, attached to funi- 



