Commelyna. | OXXXI. COMMELYNAOER. 83 
with a small stigma. Capsule usually 3-celled, the 2 biovulate cells 
opening loculicidally, the 3rd uniovulate cell remaining long closed at 
the back of one of the valves, but sometimes all 3 cells open loculici- 
dally or the 8rd cell is deficient. Seeds smooth or pitted, rugose or 
reticulate-—Weak herbs, often creeping at the base. Flowers in a 
, The genus is widely spread over the warmer regions of both hemispheres, supply- 
ing several common weeds of cultivation. The three Australian species may be all 
endemic, they are very near corresponding Asiatic species to which they have been 
Sometimes referred, but I have been unable to match them precisely. 
Spatha not cordate, closed at the base, forming an oblique 
inate inverted cone open at the toponly . . . . 1. C. ensifolia. 
Spatha cordate at the base, with rounded auricles closely 
p te 
Leaves ovate-lanceolate or rarely narrow, contracted 
above the sheath. Spatha acute, rarely acuminate. 
BL ioo. PAG ee nea edits Z0 cente 
Leaves very narrow, not contracted above the sheath. 
Spatha with along point. Seeds smooth or slightly 
HEN hri. a ano o oo 1919 3 eee DAM 
t 
Spathas usually solitary, sessile or shortl pedunculate, opposite the 
ast leaves, cucullate, very broadly faleate but searcely acuminate, to 
l in. long, the closed base 4 to 6 lines long. Each spatha, besides a 
small rudimentary pedicel, contains a single peduncle shorter than the 
rarely 6 flowe 
ner ones about twice as long, t 
mens 3 perfect, 1 anther larger than the 2 others 
RS 3-celled with i ovule in each cell. Capsule with 2 dehiscent à 
ei and then dehiscent. Seeds smooth.—F. Muell. Fragm. viii. 60 ; 
"undulata, R, Br. Prod. 270. ` 
N. Australia, antec and others; 
Essingt Islands of of Carpen! R. Brown, Henne, thers ; 
ER Shamed Jagr Hay ded Schultz, n. 70, 161; Upper Victoria 
Stuart’ F. Mueller ; Camden Harbour, Walter; Central Australia, M‘ Dougal 
"C8 and Gosses Expeditions, à 
G 
