316 PLANTS OF CENTRAL AUSTRALIA 



BLENNODIA. 



Cruciferarum genus, prope Matthiolam. 



Char. Gen. — Cahj.r, clausus, foliolis lateralibus basi sac- 

 catis. Pefala a3qiiaiia, lamiiiis obovatis. Stamina : fila- 

 nientis edentulis. Ovarium liiicare. Sft/Ius brevissimiis. 

 Stigma bilobum dilatatum. Siliqua linearis valvis convexi- 

 usculis, stigmate coronata, polysperma. Scmina aptera 

 pube fibrose -mucosa tecta ! Cotyledoaes incumbentes. 



Herba (v. Suff'rutex) erecta ramosa catiescens, puhe ra- 

 •mosn ; foliis latO'linearibus remote dentatis ; raceniis termi- 

 nalihus. 



1. Blennodia canescens. 



Log. In arenosis depressis. 



Desc. SufFruticosa, sesquipedalis, caule ramisque tereti- 

 bus. Folia vix pollicaria paucidentata. Racemi multiflori, 

 erecti, ebracteati. Flores albicantes. Calyx incano-pube- 

 scens. Petalorum ungues calyce paulo longiores. Stamina 

 6, tetradynama, filamentis linearibus membranaceis apice 

 sensim angustato. 



Obs. This plant has entirely the habit, and in many 

 important points the structure of Matthiola, near which 

 in a strictly natural method it must be placed ; differing, 

 however, in having incumbent cotyledons, and in the 

 mucous covering of its seeds. The mucus proceeds from 

 short tubes covering the whole surface of the testa, each 

 containing a spiral fibre which seems to be distinct from 

 the membrane of the tube. A structure essentially similar 

 is known to occur generally in several families ; to what 

 extent or in what genera of Cruciferae it may exist, I have 

 not ascertained ; it is not found, however, in those species 

 of ^latthiola which I have examined. 



