210 Proceedings of flu- Royal Society of Victoria. 



variable also in more or less robustness or slenderness, (jften 

 somewhat branched. Leaves linear to 1| feet long to 

 '6 inch bi'oad, but frequently of much less size, always 

 channelled and gradually much narrowed upwards ; grey- 

 green above, dark green ber)eatli, slightlj^ streaked, small 

 bulbils also formed occasionally in the axils of some leaves. 

 Inflorescence fascicularly compound when well developed. 

 Somewhat paniculate, the supporting lowest floral leaf often 

 much elongated, clasping at the base. Bracts comparatively 

 long, nuich pointed, the outer green, the inner smallei-, 

 gradually colourless, and very tender. Flower stalks to 

 2 inches long, though often shorter. Some of the stalklets 

 finally to 1-^- inches long, all enclosed in longitudinally 

 convolute bracts. Flowers almost horizontally expanding, 

 very tender, stem shrivelling. Tube of the odyK thinly 

 cylindric, pale-green, darker, six streaked, generally about 

 I inch long. Lobes of the calyx three (or exceptionally two), 

 petal-like lanceolar-ovate, about | inch long, yellowish 

 towards the base, otherwise almost brick-coloured, or neai-ly 

 orange- coloured. Petals similar to the calyx-lobes, but 

 somewhat nari-ower, three (or eJvceptionally two), along with 

 the calyx-lobes tv.'isted after flowering, finally deciduous. 

 Stamens three (seldom two), much shorter than the calyx- 

 lobes and petals. The three anthers erect, seated on the 

 yellowish narrow staujinal tube, about | inch long, yellow, 

 broad-linear, blunt, at the l)ase minutely bi-lobed, bursting 

 marginally. Style tilif(M'm, about as long as the stigmas. 

 These, as well as the anthers opposite to the calyx-lobes, 

 three (or e. ceptionally two) in number; hardl}' extending 

 beyond the anthers, yellowish, linear-cuneate, with numei'ous 

 dilated bi-lobed crenulated and ciliolated summit, and witli 

 two small tender inner appendages. Ovulary quite connate 

 with the calyx-tube, three-celled (or seldom two-celled), 

 cylindric and somewhat angular. Ovules very numerous, 

 fixed along the axis. Fruit dry, trigonous cylindric, 

 dehiscent, niany seeded. The flowers are distinctly smailei- 

 than those of Hoineria rolJina, their- petals and calyx-lobes 

 are more acute and of a ligliter red ; also less venulated, and 

 the staminal tube is olabrous. 



Conclusion. 



It will be seen from the foregoing description what 

 )nderful powers of j)ro[)agation this plant possesses by 



