Cunniane, N. O. Melanthacez. 
TAB. DCCCLVIII. 
Hewarpta Tasmanica, /fook, 
Gen. Cuan. Hawarpia, Hook., nov. gen.—Perianthium 6-phyl- 
lum, corollatum;_ stellato- a sepalis magnis acuminatis. 
Stamina 3, libera, basi sepalorum exteriorum inserta; ji/amenta 
lato- subulata, brevia ; anthere filamentis longiores, oblonge, basi 
ifidee affixee, posticee. varium pyramidatum, obtuse trique- 
trum, 3-loculare, loculis duplici serie polyspermis. S¢y/us ovario 
brevior Stigmata 3, crassa, recurvata, stylo paulo breviora. Frue- 
US . erba Tas smanica, acandis. Folia xumerosa, ensifor- 
nea, arida, rigida, disticha, longe equitantia, vaginis 
sin aus nitidissimis. Scapus /oliis longior, erectus, fleeuosus, 
bracteatus ; bracteis oe hake longe vaginantibus, suprema spa- 
thacea floi rifera. atha 1-2-flora. Flores speciosi, siccitate 
atro-purpurei, triandri. Uabitus Iridis vel Sisyrinchii. 
Hewardia Tasmanica, Hook. 
Has. Heathy plains, Macquarrie Harbour, Van Diemen’s Land, 
R 
unn, 
If, as we have endeavoured to show (Species Soruroar” li. p. 7), 
the genus Hewardia of Mr. Smith is no on really sound 
principles, but should merge, as was already suggested by Kunze, 
into Adiantum, we are sure that the many friends of that gen- 
tleman will glad! see so remarkable a plant as the present dedi- 
ee to him, one which we think none will hesitate in pronouncing 
ood a plant, too, of Australia, a country so much ex- 
wines = his dearest friend, Mr. Allan Cunningham, whose travels, 
as well as those of Leichar dt, Mr. Heward has so well narrated.* 
Our plant here figured has so entirely the habit of an Irideous — 
plant, that we are not ashamed to say that, till we observed the 
superior ovary, we had considered it a Sisyrinckium with free sta- 
mens, or a Libertia. It appears to be very rare, confined to one, 
and that a very little frequented district, of Van Diemen’s Land. 
Of the Melanthacee, it is perhaps most allied to Pleea, especially 
in habit and spathaceous scape ; but there the anthers are introrse, 
In the reduced number of stamens and large showy flowers, it is 
very distinct from any genus. It was detected in 1842, ‘when 
Mr. Gunn accompanied Sir John Franklin on an overland tour to 
Macquarrie Harbour,—an excursion so dangerous that it cost the 
life of two of the party, and threatened the lives of all. 
Fig. 1. Pistil :—magnified. 
- Mr. Heward’s valuable ear 4 of the Life of Allan Cunningham, Esq., 
tee of Bawy, vol, iv. p. 2 
