58 THE WEEDS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



Structure of Flower. In figures 1 and 2 we have a peculiar inflorescence 

 which bears the technical name of Cyathium, and which looks like a simple 

 flower, but it consists of one pistillate and several staminate flowers. The 

 Cyathium has a small cup-like involucre (see in section in figure 2) which 

 is formed by the union of five bracts, which collectively surround a number 

 of flowers. At the points of junction of four of these bracts are four 

 crescent, or horn-shaped nectaries, often described" as glands. Within the 

 involucre are a number of stamens, and scales (note their feathery tops) are 

 also seen. A staminate flower consists, of a flower-stalk terminated by two 

 stamens, and subtended by one of the scales just referred to. The pistillate 

 or carpellary flower (female flower) can best be seen at figure 1, where it 

 seems to be falling out of the Cyathium. 



The flower of a Euphorbia is said to be naked (achlamydeous), that is to 

 say, without either a calyx or a corolla. 



Note the fruit (figure 3) when ripe beginning to separate into its three 

 -constituent carpels, which contain the seeds. 



Paddy's Lucerne or Queensland Hemp (Sida rhombifolia L. 



Syn. : 8. retusa L.) 

 (MALVACEAE : Mallow Family.) 



Other Vernacular Names. It is of course not a hemp, nor is it confined to 

 Queensland, but let that pass. It sometimes goes by the name of "jelly- 

 leaf," on account of its mucilaginous character, which causes it to be nibbled 

 by stock. 



Botanical Name. This plant belongs to the natural order Malvacea, or 

 Mallow family, which includes a multitude of fibre plants. The earliest name 

 for it is Sida rhombifolia. Theophrastus gave this name to an aquatic 

 plant supposed to be identical with Althaea. Althaea includes such plants as 

 the marsh-mallow and hollyhock. Rhombifolia. From the shape of the 

 leaves, which are more or less rhomb-shaped in the original forms. 



Synonym. The original scientific name of the plant is, as has been already 

 stated, Sida rhombifolia, which includes a number of forms, one of which 

 has been named Sida retusa. As the name Sida retusa has got such a firm 

 hold on the minds of Australians, almost as firmly in fact as the vernacular 

 ones, I would have liked to have adhered to the name Sida retusa in this 

 paper, but I cannot transgress botanical laws. 



Flowers. It has a yellow flower about half an inch across, which is only 

 fully expanded" for a few hours in the middle of the day, and is very difficult 

 to preserve. 



Fruit. This will be readily made out from the figure. It is brown when 

 ripe, and the cup-shaped calyx contains a number of awned seeds. 



Leaves. Rather rigid; the shape will be readily made out from the figure. 

 As has been already stated, the leaves, particularly when young, are more or 

 less mucilaginous, a property shared in common with other plants belonging 

 to the family Malvucece ; hence the use of some of them, e.g., marsh-mallow, 

 as demulcents. 



