142 FLORA OF TASMANIA. [Cucwbiface*, 
geners, petioled, about \ inch long, linear-oblong or linear, blunt at botb ends. Pedicels longer than the leaves, 
with two small, connate bracteoles at the middle. CaJp-lobes rounded, and petals minutely erose. Stamens ten, 
alternate ones longer. 
3. Bseckia diffusa (Sieb. PL Exsicc. n. 276) ; prostrata, ramulis diffusis gracilibus, foliis brevissime 
petiolatis anguste linearibus acutis subacutis mucronatisve asperulis glabrisve, pedicellis foliis brevioribus 
v. longioribus supra v. ad medium bibracteolatis, staminibus 10.— DC. Prodr. iv. 230. B. diffusa, B. 
prostrata et B. affinis, H.f. Ic. PL t. 284. /. B, C, L>. Euryomyrtus diffusa, Schauer in Linnm, xvii. 239. 
{Gunn, 683, 816.) 
Hab. Abundant on heaths, especially on river-banks, Gunn, etc.— (El. Oct., Nov.) {v. v.) 
Distrib. South-eastern Australia. 
The B. affinis and prostrata, which I attempted (Ic. Plant. 1. c.) to distinguish from one another and from B. 
diffusa, Sieb., have been united by Schauer, and quite rightly, for they are undoubtedly varieties of one plant, in 
which the leaves vary in breadth, and in being smooth, or rough with minute scattered pubescence ; the pedicels 
are bracteolate at or above the middle, sometimes beneath the flower ; the pedicels vary extremely in length and the 
flowers in size, being twice as large in that I called B. affinis. The narrower, smaller, flat, sharp leaves distinguish 
this from B. thymifolia ; it is a very common Australian plant, and equally variable there. 
4. Baeckia Gunniana (Schauer, MSS. in Walp. Rep. Bot. ii. 920) ; glaberrima, ramis robustis 
prostratis rarius erectis, ramulis confertis dense foliosis, foliis subimbricatis brevibus lineari-obovatis obtusis 
obtuse trigonis grosse punctatis, pedicellis folio brevioribus ebracteolatis, staminibus 5-10.— Schauer in 
Linnaa, xvii. 238. B. micrantha, Hook. fil. Ic. PL t. 309, non DC. {Gunn, 306, 815.) 
Hab. Alpine places, abundant, Lawrence, Gunn. — (El. Jan.) (v. v.) 
A pretty, dark green shrub, from a few inches to 5 feet high. — Stem very robust, woody. Branches numerous, 
crowded, short, covered with leaves, rigid. Leaves imbricate, very small, narrow-obovate, blunt, bluntly three- 
angled, covered with large glandular dots, 1-2 lines long. Flowers small, white. Pedicels scarcely longer than 
the leaves, without bracteoles. Stamens variable in number, five to ten ; when more than five, some are occasionally 
Nat. Ord. XXXII. CUCURBITACE^E. 
Of this Order, which is principally a tropical one, and abounds in hot, humid jungles, there are few 
Australian species, and these, owing to the difficulty of preserving specimens in a good state for examina- 
tion, are not well determined. I have seen 10 Australian species. 
Gen. I. SICYOS, L. 
Mores 1-sexuales. El. ^ racemosi. Calyx campanulatus, 5-dentatus. Corolla calyce continua, 5-loba. 
Stamina 3-5 ; Ji la mentis in columnam coalitis; antheris liberis, 1-locularibus. El. ? capitati, umbellati v. 
solitarii, pedunculati. Cali/cis limbus campanulatus, 5-dentatus. Ovarium 1-loculare j ovulo solitario ; stylo 
3-5-fido. Fructus ovatus, coriaceus, hispidus v. spinosus. 
The only Tasmanian species is, I believe, a very widely diffused littoral plant, common upon many shores in 
the Southern Hemisphere, and in both North and South America. There are no other Australian species.— Pro- 
strate or climbing alternate 4e wed herbs, with subaxillary tendrils, and axillary unisexual flowers, the males racemose, 
with a five-toothed, bell-shaped calyx, a five-lobed, persistent corolla, and three to five stamens, whose filaments are 
united mto a column ; anthers one-celled and free. Female flowers capitate, solitary or umbellate on an axillary 
peduncle, with an inferior, one-celled, one-ovuled ovary, a bell-shaped, five-lobed calyx-limb, and trifid style. Fruit 
