272 FLORA OF TASMANIA, [Gentianea. 
Hab. Abundant throughout the Island, growing in both wet and dry places, ascending to 4000 feet. 
(Fl. Oct.-Jan.) {v. v.) 
Disteib. Mountains of New South Wales and Victoria ; New Zealand. 
A most abundant and extremely variable plant, amongst whose forms Mr. Gunn has hitherto found it impos- 
sible to distinguish more than one species. It is equally common and variable in New Zealand, where another 
species (or perhaps variety), 0. saxosa, grows, which is only distinguishable by the perennial root. In the New 
Zealand Flora I v/noides under G. saxosa, supposing that some of its more robust forms were 
perennial ; but T now suspect that all the Tasmanian forms are truly annual. — A slender or robust herb, 6 inches 
to 2 feet high. Sh- Ilt s generally very numerous, and branching from the root, erect or ascending. Radical leaves 
rosulate, obovate-spathulate, blunt ; cauline more ovate or elliptical. Flowers peduncled, J-l inch long, white or 
blue, or white and striped with blue, sometimes more or less pink-purple, or yellowish in the tube of the corolla. 
C'«/>,r-lol>es linear or linear-subulate. Corolla subrotate or broadly campanulate, sometimes hardly longer than the 
calyx, at others very much longer; its lobes narrow or broad. 
Gen. IV. VILLARSIA, Vent. 
Calyx 5-partitus. Corolla subrotata, limbo patente 5-partito, laciniis disco piano basi barbato v. squa- 
muloso, marginibus sestivatione inflexis. Stamina 5. Ovarium 1-loculare, basi glandulis 5 instructum. 
Stylus 1. Stigma 2-lobum, lobis dentatis. Capsula unilocularis, bivalvis; seminibus exalatis, placentis 
suturalibus insertis. — Herbse perennes, palustres ; foliis alternis, petiolatis, integris ; floribus corymbosis. 
Four species of this genus are known, and are remarkably dispersed, two inhabiting Western North America, 
one the Cape of Good Hope, and one Australia. All are marsh plants, with alternate, petiolate, radical leaves.— 
Calyx five-parted: Corolla rotate, with a spreading five-parted limb, which is inflated in estivation. Stamens five, 
inserted on the corolla. Ovary with five hypogynous glands, one-celled, with two parietal placental and a persis- 
tent style. Capsule two-valved ; seeds numerous.— The Tasmanian species varies from 6 to 18 inches in height, 
and has creeping rhizomes, and long-petioled leaves that are fleshy, orbicular, reniform, or cordate. Flowers in a 
panicle or cyme, yellow j segments of the corolla bearded at the base, and fringed at the margin. (Named in 
honour of Dominique Fillars, an eminent French botanist.) 
1 . Villarsia parnassiifolia (Br. Prodr. 457) ; foliis longe petiolatis orbiculatis cordatisve camosis 
integerrimis v. angulato-dentatis, ramis cyma? divaricatis v. ascendentibus, corolla lutese intus basi barbatae 
segmentis margine fimbriate intus ecristatis.— Griseb. in DC. Prodr. ix. 136. V. reniformis, Br. I.e. 
Swertia pamassifolia, Lab. Nov. Roll. i. 72. t. 97. Menyanthes exaltata, Sims, Bot. Mag. 1. 1029. {Gunn, 
717,1216.) 
Hab. Abundant in marshes and lakes, ascending to 3000 feet elevation.— (Fl. Nov.- Jan.) 
Distiub. South-eastern and South-western Australia. (Introduced into England.) 
Beowa separates the rcniform-lcaved variety of this plant as V. reniformis, remarking that it is too nearly allied 
£ { ■ P^t-tyotia, which he further describes as a polymorphous plant. Gunn considers that these are two per- 
Oti \ distinct species, and observes that one has floating leaves, and grows in lakes; the other has erect leaves, and 
****" ,n na8wh ^ onl . v > near Georgetown, flowering a month earlier than the other. Gunn's two forms are not, 
however, Brown's ; and a comparison of a numerous suite of Australian forms seems to leave no doubt that Grise- 
bach is right in uniting them. The plants vary from 6 to 18 inches high, and the leaves from * to 2 inches long, 
and from broadly reniform to oblong-cordate. 
Gen. V. LIPAROPHYLLUM, Hook. fit. 
Calyx profunde 5-fidus. Corolla subrotata, limbo patente 5-partito, laciniis imberbibus disco piano 
