dmcoplii)Uum.'\ * . ■ Lxvii. epacbide.?!;. 2G5 



8. D. parviflorum, F. Muell. Herb. Stem brancliing at tlie base, 

 with erect virgate simple branclies of above 1 ft. Leaves lanceolate-subulate, 

 rarely | in. long, mostly ciliate, the lower ones more or less spreading but 

 not recurved, all the rest closely appressed. Flowers in dense ovate spikes 

 of about \ in., eacli one sessile within an ovate or ovate-lanceolate mncro- 

 nate-acute bract, at least as long as the calyx ; bracteoles much shorter, 

 keeled, raucronate. Sepals about 2 lines long, mucronate-acute. Corolla- 

 tube as long as the calyx ; lobes obovate, scarcely half as long as the tube. 

 Filaments slightly adnata. Hypogynous scales broad, obtuse. Ovary gla- 

 brous. 



W. Australia. Thomas river aad Cape le Grand, ilarwell. F. Mueller, Fragin. vi. 

 66, mentions this as a variety of D. gracile, but besides the foliage, the small corolla-lobes 

 are remarkable, and the characters by which this and the five preceding species are disliu- 

 gnished, are none of them of more importance. 



9. D. minimum, F. Muell. Fragm. i. 39, vi. 65. A small tufted moss- 

 like plant, forming dense masses of a few inches in diameter. Leaves im- 

 bricate, with a short broad base, acumiruite and rather acute, 2 to 3 lines 

 long. Flowers solitary terminal and sessile amongst the last leaves, winch 

 are as long as the calyx and form a kind of involucre round it. _ Sepals 

 lanceolate, acute, about 2 lines long. Corolla-tube rather broad, cylindrical, 

 as long as the calyx ; lobes rather broad, very spreading, shorter than the 

 tube, with longitudinal folds at the base, not quite so prominent as m D. 

 gracile and its allies. Filaments adnate nearly to the top of the corolla- 

 tube; anthers ovate-oblong. Hypogynous scales broad, truncate. Style 

 ratber short.— Hook. f. Fl. Tasm. ii. 367. 



Tasmania. Summit of Mount Lapeyronse, in tufts, Oldfield. B. muscoides.llook. f., 

 from New Zealand, appears to be the same species; the leaves are usually smaller, but i can 

 see no other difference. 



Okdee lxviii. PLTJMBAGINE^. 



Calyx tubular, often enlaro-ed and scarious or petal-like at the top, with 5 

 prominent ribs usually ending in as many teeth. Corolla regular, of 5 petals, 

 free or more or less united, contorted-imbricate in the bud. Stamens 5, m- 

 serted at the base of the corolla or petals, opposite to them, and often more 

 w less adnate to them ; anthers versatUe, 2-celled, the cells opening in lon- 

 gitudinal slits. Ovary 1 -celled with 1 ovule suspended from a iiliform pla- 

 centa erect from the base. Styles 5 . distinct or united at the base. Capsule 

 1-seeded, indehiscent or opening irregularly. Seed solitary; testa tlun ; 

 albumen rarely abundant, usually scanty or none ; embryo straight, radicle 

 superior.— Herbs or rarely undershrubs or shrubs. Leaves radical or alter- 

 Jiate, entii-e or (in species not Australian) lobed. Flowers in termmal heads 

 spikes or panicles. 



The Order, althongh a small one, is widely dispersed over most parts of the globe, chiefly 

 'n maritime districts. Of the three Australian genera, one has nearly the range of the 

 Oraer; the second extends over the New as well as the Old World, but only in the warmer 

 regions ; the third is further limited to the tropical seacoasts of the Old ^ orld Jh^ "rder 

 ^s allied to PrimulucecB in the position of the stamens and the 1-ceUed ovary, but diffe). m 

 ^ compound pistil with a solitary ovnle, and in habit. 



