78 CXXX. XYRIDER. [ Xyris. 
Scapes sometimes only 2 or 3 in. high, but varying from that to 1 ft. or 
rather more, terete or slightly flattened. Flower-head ovoid-globose, 
without prominent keels. Perianth small for the genus. Anthers almost 
sessile, the cells quite distinct dorsally attached to a small connective; 
staminodia very slender, with very few terminal hairs and often very 
difficult to find. Capsule od. the placentas adnate to the apex of 
the valves.—Kunth, Enum v. 17; X. pauciflora, X. paludosa, X. den- 
ticulata, and X. pusilla, R. D: Prod. 256 ; X. oligantha, Steud. Syn. 
88. 
N. Australia. M‘Adam Range and Victoria River, F. Mueller ; Port Essington, 
Armstrong. 
Queensland. Endeavour —— Banks and Solander, A. Cunningham ; between 
Norman and oue Rivers, Gulliv 
The es is also widely mem over tropical Asia. Brown's four species were 
all described from Banks and Solander’s Endeavour River specimens, and appear to 
me to differ only in size and luxuriance : the two smallest slender weg: 2 to 31m 
represent well Willdenow’ s figure; the larger dbi id however; 
more rame in Indian as well as in Australian collectións. 
. X. lacera, R. Br. Prod. 257.—Stems rather stout, terete, varying 
hen under 1 ft. to above 2 ft. high, surrounded at the base by a few 
long, broad, m brown leaf-sheaths, of which 1, 2, or 8 are omo 
into blades of 2 o in. Flower-heads ovoid or globular, under jm 
meter. Bealds very broad, their black margins much ja ueg th 
w. were King George 8 — and adjoining districts, R. Brown, Drum- 
mond, n. 200, 354, "QUAM. F. Mueller. 
ike — wes Png l. c. from ew: Bay, appears to be the same species with 
rather smaller 
4. X. flexifolia, R. Br. Prod. 256.—Stems very slender, twisted, 
usually 1 ft. high or niet more, with a single long brown sheath at the: 
ng 
se iud. pa metimes a second sheath produced into a slender terete 
twisted leaf resembling the stem. Flower-head oblong or narrow-ovoid, 
9 to 4 lines long. Seales ovate, eh itn the black margins jagged, d, the. 
centre of the flowering ones pale-coloured.  Bracteoles narrow, obtuse; 
~ esee keeled. Outer rU ~~: more petallike than ig 
st species ; inner segments ovate-oblong, much narrower than usual. 
reum linear-oblong, the cells almost Sabre. adnate ; no staminodia in. 
