1^2 LXIV. GOODKNOVIE.E. [ScaVoU. 



43. S. linearis, R Br. Prod. 586. A diffuse undersliruT) or spreading 

 shrub, more or less villous. Leaves sessile, linear or linear-lanceolate, obtuse, 

 witli revolute margins, the larger ones 1 in. long, the axils not woolly, the 

 floral ones siinilar or more lanceolate and smaller. Flowers sessile in the 

 upper axils, forming an interrupted, leafy spike. Bracteoles linear. Calyx- 

 limb very short, annular, sinuate. Corolla pubescent outside, 6 to 7 lines 

 long with the penicillate cilia in the throat of S. mlcrocarpa. Ovary 

 1-celled, with 2 ovules. Style slightly hairy. Indusium shortly ciliale. 

 Fruit oblong, about fi lines long.— DC. Prod. vii. 510: Merkusia linearis, 

 De Vr. Gooden. 67. . 



S. Australia. Port Lincoln, R. Brown, Wilhelmi ; Encounter Bay, F. Mueller; 

 Kangaroo Island, Waterhoiise. In this species and in 5. pahidosa Brown describes the 

 ovary as monosijcrmous. I have always found in the ovary 2 ovules closely appressed to 

 each other without any trace of dissepiment, but only one of them appears to enlarge, so as 

 to leave the fruit monospermoua. 



44. S. Oldfieldii, F. Muell. Fragm. ii. 19. An erect or divaricate 

 shrub of several ft., closely allied to S. paludosa, but quite glabrous except 

 the inflorescence. Leaves from oblong-lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, acute, 

 narrowed into a long petiole, the larger ones 2 to 3 in. long, a few of the 

 lower ones sometimes smaller and obovatc, the floral ones "small, narrow, 

 with broad, sheathing bases, all entire or very rarely when broad with a few 

 teeth. Spikes dense, axillary, and leafy, always shorter than the subtending 

 leaves, the flowers sessile. Bracteoles" linear, dilated and sheathing at tlie 

 base. Calyx-limb exceedingly short and truncate. Corolla 6 to 8 lines 

 long, silky-pubescent outside. Ovary 1-celled, with 2 ovules. Indusium 

 glabrous, shortly ciliate. Fruit small, oblong. 



W. AustraUa. Jlurchisou river, Oldfield. Very closely allied to 5. paludosa, and 

 perhaps only a larji;e-flowered, glabrous variety. - j 



45. S. paludosa, R. Br. Prod. 586. A spreading decumbent or pro- 

 strate hard perennial or nndershrub, more or less hirsute with appresseJ 

 hairs or rarely nearly glabrous. Leaves from linear-lanceolate to obloug- 

 lauceolate, acute, narrowed into along petiole, the larger ones 2 to 3 in. long, 

 the floral ones much smaller and dilated at the base, all entire. Spikes 

 dense, axillary, leafy, always shorter than the subtending leaves. Flovvers 

 sessde. Bracteoles linear with dilated sheathing bases. Calyx-limb ex- 

 ceedingly short and truncate. Corolla under i in. long, pubescent outside. 

 Ovary 1-celIed, with 2 ovules. Indusium glabrous, shortly ciliate. Fruit 

 small.— DC. Prod. vii. 511; MerTcusia paludosa, De Vr. Gooden. (Si. 



■W. AustraUa King George's Souud, R. Brown. 



Var. prostrata. Stems long and prostrate.— S. repens, De Vr. in PI. Preiss. i. ^^\ 

 ^'^J^P^era repem, Dc Vr. Gooden. 114.— Swan River, Prehs, n. 1519; Brummond, I'i 



J 



46. S. sericophyUa, F. Muell. Herb. An erect shrub of 2 to 3 «•. 

 the branches and foliage hoary or silvery with a very close silky toraeatuffl- 

 Leaves crowded on the short branchlets, obovate-oblonc^ or oblanceolate, 

 obtuse or softly mucrouate, narrowed below the middle, rather thick, 

 i to 1 in. long. Flowers sessile in the axils, scarcely so long as tlie 



