182 XIX. HYPERiciNE.^. \lhjpenciim. 



Erect or ascending. Leaves usually subcorJatc 1. II. gramineum. 



Procumbent. Leaves usually oblong or obovatc 2. H.japonicum. 



1. H. gramiueum, Forst. ; DC, Trod, i. 5-t8. A j^Librons perennijil, 

 with erect or ascendiii^^ ano-ular stems, usually about 1 ft. lii^li, but some- 

 times ucarly twice that height, or much sliorter, slender, but rather rigid, 

 bi-auching at tiie base only or in the inflorescence. Leaves closely stem- 

 clasping, ovate to oblong-lanceolate, obtuse, rarely exceeding \ in., entire, 

 with numerous pellucid dots, the margins more or less revolute. Flowers 3 

 or more, in the forks of terminating the branches of a dichotomous cyme, 

 with a pair of leafy bracts at the base of each fork ; the pedicels erect and 

 rigid, \ io \ in. long. Sepals lanceolate, acute, apprcsscd, 2 to 3 or rarely 4 

 Hues long. Petals entire, longer than the sepals. Stamens very variable in 

 number, usually rather numerous and free. Styles 3, distinct. Capsule 1- 

 celled, 3-valved, with narrow-linear placentas and numerous small seeds. 

 DO. Prod. i. 548 ; Labill. Sert. Austr. Caled. 53, t. 53 ; Hook. f. FL Tasm. 

 i. 53 ; F. Muell. PI. Vict. i. 193 ; Ascymm involutum, LabilL PI. Nov. Holl. 

 ii. 33, t. 174 ; Ihjpencuni invohdum, Chois. in DC. Prod. i. 549 ; //. pedi- 

 cellnre, Endl. in Hueg. Enum. 12; BratJujs Blllardien and B. Forsteri, 

 Spach, in Ann. Sc. Nat. Ser. 2, v. 367. 



N. Australia, Gulf of Carpentaria, R. Broica. 



Queensland. IMorctoa Isiauil, F- Mueller. 



N. S. "Wales. Port Jackson, R, Brown; Blue Jlountains, A, Cumiingham ; Hastings 

 and Clarence rivers, Beckh'r. • 



Victoria- Cuuinion in pasture lands as well as iii barren localities througliout the 

 colony, ascending to the Australian Alps, F. Mueller. 



Tasmania. Abundant everywhere in good soil, / D. Hooker. 



•W. Australia. Swan River, Druwmond ; iMtirehison river, Ohljhld. The latter 

 specimens remarkable for their eloui^ated iulluresecnec, with the flowers mostly singly axil- 

 lary along its branches. 



The species in the original form, above described, is cunnnon also to New Zeahn d and 

 New Caledouia.^ The S. African //. Laiandil, Chois., which has been referred to it, appears 

 to me to differ in several respects. 



H. iaponicuin 



H, 



Very nearly allied to 



terete or scarcely anfi;led. Leaves smaller, flatter, ami more obtuse, not so 

 broad at the base. Flowers smaller, on shorter pedicels, the sepals less acute 

 and the petals verv seldom exceeding them.— DC. Prod, i, 548 ; Hook. f. 



'/ 



Nat. ser. 2, v. 367. 



i/*' 



W. S. "Wales. New England, C, Stuart; Hastings, Maclcay, and Clarence rivers, 

 Beckler, 



•Tasmania.^ Abundant in hilly, hamid situations throufrhout the island, /. B. Hooker. 

 S. Australia. Torrcns and Oiiknparinga rivers, F. Mueller, 



The species is widely spread over tropical and eastern Asia, extending fi-om Japan to New 

 Zealand. 



