170 FLORA OF TASMANIA. [Bubiacea. 
§ 4. Leaves eight in a whorl. 
6. Asperula minima (Hook. fii. in Lond. Journ. Bot. vi. 464) j csespitosa, caulibus gracilibus con- 
fertis ramosis erectis ascendentibusve glaberrimis v. hispidulis, foliis senis-octonis minimis confertis anguste 
lineari-obovatis v. elliptico-oblongis acuminatis apice diaphano superne marginibusque recurvis hispidulis 
glabratisve, pedunculis terininalibus axillaribusque folio longioribus, corollre tubo brevi. {Gunn, 1251.) 
Hab. Common about Georgetown, Gunn. — (Fl. Nov.) 
Much the smallest Tasmanian species, very densely tufted, forming matted patches. — Stems very slender, gla- 
brous, much branched, 3-5 inches long. Leaves very minute, T V~£ inch long, six to eight in a whorl, linear-oblong 
or obovate-acuminate, with diaphanous points, and recurved margins, glabrous or slightly scabrid on the upper 
surface. Flowers large for the diminutive size of the plant, on terminal and axillary, one- to three-flowered pedun- 
cles, longer than the leaves. Corolla funnel-shaped, with a short tube. 
Gen. V. GALIUM, L. 
Omnia Asperula, sed corolla rotata v. tubo brevissimo. 
This is a much larger European genus than Asperula, but with a similar distribution. About twelve Austra- 
lian species are known, almost confined to the south-east quarter of the Continent and Tasmania ; one only has been 
found in South-west Australia. The genus exactly resembles Asperula in all characters but the corolla, which is 
rotate, or has a very short tube. (Name from yaAa, milk, in curdling which a species has been used.) 
§ 1. Leaves quaternate, rarely senate. Fruit glabrous. 
1. Galium vagans (Hook. fil. in Lond. Journ. Bot. vi. 461); totum ciliis patentibus subrecurvisve 
hispido-pilosum, caule elongato graciK vage diffuse ramoso, verticillis remotis, foliis parvis quatemis ellip- 
ticis subacutis utrinque hispidulis, pedunculis axillaribus folio longioribus 2- rarius 3-floris, floribus mini- 
mis, fructibus glaberrimis. {Gunn, 548.) 
Hab. Dry bushy places, probably not uncommon.— (Fl. Nov., Dec.) 
Distrib. Victoria, Robertson ; New South Wales, A. Cunn. 
A slender, straggling species, with sparingly leafy branches, a foot long, more or less covered with slender, 
rigid, spreading or recurved long hairs. Leaves small, much shorter than the internodes, \ inch long, narrow- 
elliptical, subacute, more or less hispid on both surfaces. Peduncles axillary, becoming much longer than the leaves, 
slender. Flowers and fruit both very small.— This plant varies extremely in size, and in the amount of hairiness 
or hispidity. 
%. Galium ciliare (Hook. fil. in Lond. Journ. Bot. vi. 461) ; caulibus brevibus suberectis elonga- 
tisve et prostratis vage diffuse ramosis laxe hispido-pilosis, foliis 4-6-nis internodiis brevioribus elliptico- 
ovatis acutis utrinque v. superne laxe ciliatis, pedunculis folio subsequilongis plerisque trifloris, floribus 
flavis, ovario glaberrimo. 
Yar. a; caulibus elongatis. {Gunn, 237, 1128.) (Tab. XLI. A.) 
Var. /3; caulibus abbreviatis. {Gunn, 492.) (Tab. XLI.B.) 
Hab. Dry pastures, abundant; Hampshire Hills, Arthur's Lakes, Circular Head, Hobarton.— (Fl. 
Oct.-Dec.) {v.v.) 
A common and variable species. Stems 2 inches to l\ foot long, slender, sparingly branched, suberect when 
short and stout, covered more or less copiously with long spreading hairs. Leaves small for the size of the plant, 
in distant whorls of four, or rarely six, subpetiolate, elliptical-oblong, subacute, more or less pilose on the upper or 
on both surfaces. Flowers apparently a bright yellow, rather larger than is usual in the Tasmanian species of the 
