588 ON TWO UNRECORDED MYRTACEOUS PLANTS FROM N.S.W., 



as the calyx, lobes persistent, staminal bundles about 2 lines long, 

 the claw scarcely exceeding tlfe petals, each with numerous 

 filaments. 



Fruiting-calyx globular, contracted, and mostly entire; only 

 occasionally do the minute calyx-lobes crown it. 



Frutex glaber, erectus, ramis gracilibus, ramulis junioribus 

 filiformibus; foliis minimis, alternis, ovatis, mucronatis vel ellip- 

 tico-lanceolatis, 1-2'" longis, striatis, paucincrviis, sessilibus; flori- 

 bus spicatis, brevibus, rhachidibusque glabris; capsulis compactis, 

 pilularibus. 



Betnarks. — This Melaleuca was discovered by Mr. L. G. Irby, 

 Museum Collector, when collecting on the Lawrence Road at 

 Casino, where it is not common, in the swamps in that locality. 



It is a shrub or small tree, and is differentiated in the field by 

 its delicate filiform branchlets, and very small leaves. In this 

 latter respect it stands quite alone among Melaleucas. The most 

 suitable specific name for it has already been appropriated for a 

 Western Australian species. The leaves, however, are not unlike 

 those of some Epacrids, and so a derivative of this name would 

 also be specially applicable; they are numerous, imbricate, some- 

 times appressed, especially in the extremely slender branchlets. 

 Although acuminate, they are not pungent-pointed, but rather 

 obtuse; the striations are few and not nearly so well marked as 

 in M. styphelioides, its nearest ally. Another featui-e that may 

 be mentioned is, that the leaves are deciduous in herbarium 

 material, in contrast to the persistent leaves of M. styphelioides. 

 It also resembles this species in that it has little or no oil in 

 its leaves. It differs from M. styphelioides in the smallness of 

 its leaves, and in the venation, glabrous character, calyx-lobes, 

 and fruits, and the same remarks apply to other species of the 

 genus. 



In a systematic classification it would be placed in Series v. of 

 Bentham's subdivision of the genus (Flora Australiensis, Vol.iii., 

 p. 125): — -"Leaves alternate or opposite. Flowers either solitary 

 or few and distinct, or in more or less interrupted oblong- 

 cylindrical or elongated spikes, sometimes at first terminal but 

 the axis usually growing out before the flowering is over, rarely 



