FLORA OF TASMANIA. 
Gen. I. TRICHINIUM, Br. 
Flores hermaphroditi, 3-bracteati. Perianthium 5-phyllum, foliolis elongatis erectis phimosis, 2 exte- 
rioribus majoribus. Stamina 5 ; filamentis basi in cupulam v. tubum coalitis; antheris sub-2-locularibus. 
Ovarium 1-loculare, 1-ovulatutn, stylo elongato; stigmate capitate Utriculus 2-valvis, basi perianthio 
inclusus. Semen verticale, reuiforme j testa subcrustacea ; albumine centrali farinaceo ; embryone periphe- 
rico, radicula ascendente.— -Herbas annua v.perennes; foliis alternis, rarius opposite, fasciculatisve ; flori- 
bus capitalis spicatisve, tandem ope perianthii plumosi avolantibus ; bracteis scariosis, nitidis, per sistentibus. 
1. Trichinium spathulatum (Br. Prodr. 415); radice perenni lignosa, ramis brevibus ascenden- 
tibus glabris viridibus, foliis radicalibus petiolatis obovato-spathulatis obtusis mucronulatis integerrimis 
glabris, superioribus sessilibus, capitalis solitary's ovatis cylindraceisve obtusis, floribus densis flavidis, 
perianthio bracteis duplo longiore, foliolis subtrinerviis apice nitidis pilis perianthio longioribus sericeis 
Bavescentibus copiosissimis.— Moq. Tand. in DC. Prodr. xii. 288. [Gunn, 726.) (Tab. XCIV.) 
Hab. Abundant on dry plains near Ross ; Clarence Plains, New Norfolk, etc.— (Fl. Nov.) {v. v.) 
Distrib. Victoria and Swan River. 
A very pretty species, belonging to a very large genus, numbering fifty Australian species ; it forms a low, 
herbaceous plant, with a very stout, woody root, and short, prostrate, ascending branches, that bear long, cylin- 
drical heads of silky, yellow flowers.— Root often as thick as the thumb. Branches 2-4 inches long, spreading 
from the collum, prostrate, with ascending tips. Leaves petiolate, glabrous, spathulate, 1-H inch long, blunt, 
generally with a mucro. Spikes 1-2 inches long, £ inch broad, blunt, ovate or generally cylindrical. Bracts scari- 
ous, shining, broadly ovate, half as long as the perianth. Perianth linear, five-cleft ; segments linear-subulate, 
unequal, erect, plumose, with long, yellow, silky hairs. Stamens five, the filaments united into a small, membranous 
cup. Omry oblique, pilose at the top, with a long style, and minute, capitate stigma. Utricuhu with one erect, 
reniform seed. (Name from lynxivos, icoven ; in allusion to the hairy inflorescence.) — Plate XCIV. Pig. 1, flower ; 
2, the same, with one segment of perianth removed; 3, apex of pedicel, with stamens and pistil; 4, pistil; 5, sta- 
men ; ♦'>, hair of perianth : — all Ithjlihj mujiiijlvih 
Gen. II. ALTERNANTHERA, Forst. 
Flores hermaphroditi (rarius polyg. dioici), tribracteati. Perianthium 5-partitum, foliolis glabris v. 
villosis, erectis. Stamina 5 ; filamentis filiformibus, basi in cupulam connatis ; staminodiis minutis inter- 
jectis; antheris unilocularibus, 2 interdum castratis. Ovarium 1-loculare, stylo brevi; stigmatibus 1 v. 2. 
Utriculus obovatus, evalvis. Semen verticale, lenticulare ; testa Crustacea ; albumine farinaceo ; embryone 
peripherico; radicula ascendente. — Herbas; caulibus ramosis ; ramis nodosis, angulatis ; foliis oppositis ; 
floribus albis, capitalis, demum deciduis. 
A tropical and subtropical genus, of about twenty-five species, of which three or four only are Australian, and 
these very variable in habit and foliage. All are herbs, with branched, angular, often jointed and rooting stems, 
opposite leaves, and capitate, small, white, deciduous, sessile, hermaphrodite flowers. Perianth of five subscarious 
pieces. Stamens five, with one-celled anthers and subulate filaments, alternating with minute scales, together united 
at the base into a cup. Ovary one-celled, with one erect ovule, a slender style, and capitate, bdobed or bifid stigma, 
or two stigmas. limit a membranous, obovate utricle, with one vertical seed. (Name from the stai 
iniiiodia.) 
Alternanthera sessilis (Br. Prodr. 416) ; glabra v. ramulis ultimis bifariam pubescentibus, 
repente ramoso, foliis glabris v. axillis barbatis linearibus lanceolatis obovatis spathulatisve 
ule herbacec 
