98 FLORA OF TASMANIA. [Leguminous. 
multiovulatum. Legumen lineare, rectum, cylindraceum, polyspermia, uniloculare v. septatum.— Herbse 
erectre v. diffuse procumbentes; foliis alternis, trifoliolatis ; stipulis liberis, foUaceis ; pedunculis axillaribus 
termliwlibv.sqve, apicc floriferis ; floribus pleri«q»c umbellate, albis roseis v.Jlavis. 
A verv large European and especially Mediterranean genus, of which the four or five Australian species are 
almost the only ones known in the Southern Hemisphere; none inhabit New Zealand, nor the tropics, nor extra- 
tropical African or South America. What renders the Australian distribution of the genus most remarkable is the 
occurrence of L. comiculatus, one of the European species.— Serb*, generally prostrate, with trifoliolate alternate 
leaves, and large leafy stipules. Mower* generally sessile and umbellate at the apex of slender peduncles, with a 
bract at the base of each. Calyx five-toothed. Corolla papilionaceous, with an acute almost rostrate keel. Pod 
cylindrical, straight, two-valvcd, one-celled or divided by many septa into as many cells, many-seeded. (Name of 
unknown derivation.) 
1. Lotus comiculatus (Lin. Sp. PI. 1092); caulibus prostratis, stipulis ovatis, foliolis ovalibus 
obovatisve obtusis v. subacutis, bracteis foliaceis, pedunculis elongatis, capitulis depressis 3-8-floris, floribus 
flavis, calyce campanulato, lobis acutis corolla multoties brevioribus, legumiue tereti, seminibus reniformibus. 
— DC. Prodr. ii. 214; Engl. Bot. t. 2090. {Gunn, 83.) 
Hab. Abundant in rich soil and marshy places, affording good pasturage, ascending to 4000 feet, 
Lawrence, Gunn. — (Fl. Dec.) 
Distrib. New South Wales and South-east Australia, Throughout Europe and West Asia, from 
Britain to the mountains of Afghanistan, and along the Himalaya to Nipal. North Africa, Abyssinia, and 
the Canary Islands. 
A straggling herb, with many ascendi from the root, and bearing erect peduncles crowned 
with a small capitulum or depressed umbel of yellow or reddish flowers. — Leaves glabrous in the Australian speci- 
mens. Stipule* large, ovate or oblong. Petioles short, f inch long ; leaflets sessile, £-£ inch long, more or less 
obovate. Flowers sessile, with leafy bracts at the base. Calyx glabrous or pilose, its segments acute, narrow. Pod 
l|-2 inches long, \ inch in diameter, divided into many cells by spongy dissepiments. Seeds small, kidney-shaped, 
black. — This appears to be undoubtedly indigenous in Australia and Tasmania, and is so abundant in many places 
as to afford an excellent pasturage. 
2. Lotus australis (Andr. Bot. Eep. 624) ; pubescens, caule procumbente diffuse ramoso, stipulis 
bracteisque oblongo-lanceolatis, foliolis obovato-lanceolatis subacutis, pedunculis elongatis brevibusve, flo- 
ribus roseis breviter pedicellatis, calycibus pilosis laciniis subulatis, legumine tereti, seminibus reniformibus. 
—Sims, Bot. Mag. 1365 ; DC. Prodr. ii. 212. L. albidus, Lodd. Bot. Cab. 1. 1063. L. kevigatus, Benth. 
hi Mitch. Journ. p. 62. 
Hab. Sandy shores on the north coast , Gunn. Aiacquame Harbour, //. Cnnmngliam. — (Fl. Dec.) 
Distrib. New South Wales, from the tropic southwards, South-east Australia, Isle of Pines (New 
Caledonia). (Cultivated in England.) 
A much larger and more robust spo m, with narrower stipules, 
leaflets, and bracts, stouter pedicels, and larger rose-coloured or purplish flowers. It is a very handsome plant. 
Gen. XIII. PSORALEA, L. 
Calyx campanulatus, quinquefidus. Vexillum marginibus reflexum. Stamina 10, diadelpha; antherse 
conformes v. aiternse steriles. Ovarium 1-ovulatum. Legumen calyce inclusum, indehiscens, membrana- 
ceum, monospermum. Semen interdum cum endocarpio leguminis coalitum. — Frutices v. herbtc ; foliis im- 
paripinnatis, trifoliolatis v. unijngis, stipulate ; floribus spicalis capitateve. 
A very remarkable genus, which abounds in the tropical and warm parts of North and South America, and hi 
