32 FLORA OF TASMANIA. \PolygalecB. 
with short stalks and broad concave limbs. Corolla of three lobes 5 inner described by De Candolle as toothed, but 
quite entire in my specimens, galeate ; lateral lobes obovate. Capsule linear-clavate, truncate, rounded or apiculate 
at the apex. Seeds glabrous except for the long silky beard, linear-oblong ; testa green. 
2. Comesperma retusum (Lab. Nov. Holl. ii. 22. t. 160) ; erectum, robustum, ramosum, foliis 
coriaceis obovatis Uneari-oblongisve obtusis acutis mucronatisve (£~| unc. long.), racemis terminalibus con- 
tracts, capsulis obeordato-spathulatis in stipitem elongatum contractis apice late retusis subbilobis cum 
apiculo, seminibus caruncula nulla.— DC. Prodr. I. c. ; Steetz, Plant. Preiss. ii. 295. {Gunn, 170.) 
Hab. Abundant, especially in the northern parts of the Island, from the sea to 3600 feet elev. on the 
Western Mountains, in a moist light soil, Gunn, etc.— (Fl. Nov.) {v. v.) 
Distrib. New South Wales and South-eastern Australia. 
A very handsome- flowered shrub, 1-3 feet high, branched from the base.— Stem and branches stout, leafy, with 
pale yellow-brown bark. Leaves very thick, i-1 inch long, obovate, linear or oblong, blunt, acute or rounded. 
Flowers purplish, in terminal subumbellate panicles. Peduncles short, with linear-oblong bracts. Outer sepals 
broadly oblong ; two inner large, broadly elliptic, very concave, not suddenly contracted at the base. Inner lobe 
of corolla deeply concave and galeate, entire, lateral narrow. Capsules i inch long, upper part broadly obovate or 
spathulate, retuse and almost two-lobed at the apex, with a central apiculus, contracted below into a narrow 
peduncle. Seeds villous as well as being clothed with long silky descending hairs. 
3. Comesperma ericinum (DC. Prodr. i. 334) ; fruticosum, erectum, gracile, glaberrimum v. 
obscure pubescens, foliis linearibus lineari-oblongisve rarius elliptico-oblongis obtusis acutis apiculatisve 
margmibus recurvis revolutisve, racemis terminalibus elongatis, capsulis apice truncato trilobo v. late retusis 
medio apiculatis.— Steetz, Plant. Preiss. ii. 297. C. linariifolium, A. Cunn. fid. F. Mutter. {Gunn, 647.) 
Yar. a; foliis sparsis anguste linearibus mucronatis.— C. ericinum, DC. 1. c. ; Steetz, I. c. 297. 
Yar. (3. acutifolia; foliis sparsis oblongis linearibusve mucronatis.— C. acutifolium, Steetz, I. c. 296. 
Yar. 7. latifolia; foliis lanceolatis oblongo-lanceolatisve acutis.— C. latifolium, Steetz, I. c. 
Hab. North coast, near the sea, and islands of Bass' Straits, on sandy soil, Gunn.— (Fl. Nov.) 
Distrib. New South Wales and South-eastern Australia. 
A slender, erect, twiggy bush, 3 feet high, very variable in habit, foliage, and size of flowers.— Leaves linear- 
elliptical or oblong, acute, obtuse, or apiculate, |-f inch long, the shortest proportionably broader. Racemes ter- 
minal, elongated, few- or many-flowered. Mowers pale purple. Bracts very deciduous. Sepals three; outer broadly- 
ovate ; inner very concave, oblong, suddenly contracted to a cuneate base. Lnner lobe of corolla entire ; lateral 
linear-oblong, with an obscure auricle on the side next the inner lobe. Capsule similar to that of C. ret,,,,,, | m t 
shorter. Seeds with a strophulus and very long silky hair,, testa aleo hairy.— An exceedingly variable plant, 
probaWy common all over extratropical Australia. Gunn sends two states : one larger and taller, with larger leaves 
and larger flowers ; the other (growing in more exposed situations) much smaller, with broader leaves, and smaller 
: ..ured flowers. The flowers and fruit of these states vary much, but the same variations occur in each' 
Mutter's C. ImariifbUum, A.C., is the same plant, with a slight pubescence ; Steetz's acutifolium and latifolium are 
sent by Gunn as varieties. 
4. Comesperma Calymega (Lab. 1. c. p. 23. t. 162); glaberrimum, herbaceum, erectum, e basi 
stnctis virgatis simplicibus, foliis radicalibus (dum adsunt) majoribus elliptico-lanceolatis, 
caulinis sparsis lineari-lanceolatis omnibus 
i terminantibus elongatis mul- 
tiflons, flonbus breve pedicellatis, sepalis 3 exterioribus magnis oblongis obtusis interioribus 2 late 1 
rotundatis \ brevioribus, petalis lobo intermedio integro lateralibus longioribus linearibus acuminatis, semi- 
nibus villosis et longe Wis, caruncula nulla.-J9£ Prodr. I. c. ; Hook. Camp. Bot. Mag. i. 274; Steetz 
m Plant. Preiss. 11. 306. C. isocalyx, Spreng. Syst. Teg. iii. 172 {fid. Steetz). {Gunn, 785.) 
