312 FLORA OF TASMANIA. [Ckenopodiacea . 
various other countries which present similarly extensive areas of desert, salt-marshes, and saline tracts. 
The majority are however littoral, and many of them shrubs, some common to many other parts of the 
world, but the greater number are peculiar. About seventy or eighty species are known, of which many 
are referable to the cosmopolitan genera Atriplex and Chenopodium, but one large genus, Rhagodia, is 
almost confined to Australia and Tasmania, as are several smaller ones. 
Gen. I. EHAGODIA, Br. 
Mores ebracteati, hermaphroditi, rarius unisexuales. Perianthium 5-partitum, laciniis carinato-con- 
cavis, fructiferis immutatis. Stamina 1-5, imo perianthii inserta; filamentis pubescentibus, subulatis, basi 
dilatatis ; staminodiis ; antheris latiusculis. Ovarium globosum ; stylis 2-3, filiformibus, intus stigmati- 
fens. Acinus depresso-globosus, basi perianthio cinctus, pericarpio semine adhserente. Semen horizontal, 
depressum ; testa Crustacea ; albumine copioso, centrali, farinaceo ; embryone annulari. — Frutices ramosi ; 
foliis alternis v. suboppositis ; floribus viridibus, tolitariis v. glomerulatis ; glomerulis scepius in panieulas 
dispositis ; stylis exsertis. 
A littoral -vim;-, most common on the south-west quarter of the continent; about twenty species are known. 
—Small shrubs, with alternate, generally entire leaves, often whitish beneath, and with panicled flowering-branches 
bearing solitary, small, green flowers, or glomcrules of these. Flowers sessile, generally hermaphrodite. Perianth 
five-parted. Stamens five, the filaments pubescent, combined into a cup below, without staminodia. Ovary de- 
pressed, one-ovuled, with two or three spreading styles. Fruit depressed, fleshy, the pericarp adhering to the hori- 
zontal seed.— This genus scarcely differs from Chenopodium, except in the shrubby habit, pubescent filaments, and 
fleshy fruit. (Name from pa£, a berry,- in allusion to the fleshy fruit.) 
1. Rhagodia baccata (Moq. Tand. in DC. Prodr. xiii. 50); caule fruticoso erecto, ramis sulcatis 
inermibus, foliis lanceolatis liuearibusve integerrimis planis superne glaberrimis subtus albido-pulverulentis, 
paniculis compositis rainosis ramis divaricatis, floribus sessilibus polygamis.— R. Billardieri, Br. Prodr. 
408. Chenopodium baccatum, Lab. PI. Nov. Roll. i. 71. t. 96. {Gunn, 390.) 
Jar. 8. congesta; foliis densis, deltoi- v. rhombeo-ovatis.— R. congesta, Moq. Tand. in DC. Prodr. 
xiii. 51. Chenopodium congestura, Nob. in Bond. Jonrn. Bot. vi. 280. 
Hab. Common in salt-marshes, etc., especially on the north coasts of the Island. Var. 8. Hobarton. 
-(Fl. Jan.) (*. «,.) 
Distrib. Coasts of extratropical Australia, from Hunter's River to Swan River. (Cultivated in Eng- 
land.) 
A my variable shrub, 2-6 feet high, with spreading, furrowed, and angled branches, often striped green or 
redebsh and white. Leaves scattered or crowded, very variable in size and form, *-2 inches long, lanceolate, ellip- 
~\ S "!;! iaSt : nte; glabr0US aWe > ™ orc « ^ powdery beneath. Panicles branched. Flowers very 
i broader-leaved state of this plant, which owes much of its peculiar appear- 
2. Rbagodia nutans (Br. Prodr. 408) ; caule herbaceo ramosissimo, ramis gracilibus prostratis dif- 
fusa saepius mtricatis inermibus, foliis parvis petiolatis suboppositis hastatis v. oblongo-lanceolatis acutis 
integerrimis margme recurvis utrinque viridibus, spicis vix paniculatis nutantibus ramis gracillimis laxifloris, 
floribus sessihbus minimis.— Moq. Tand. in DC. Prodr. xiii. 53. {Gunn, 727.) 
Hab. Abundant in plains near Ross, Gunn; and shores of the Dervvent.— (Fl. Dec.) (v. v.) 
Distrib. South-eastern Australia; New South Wales and Victoria. (Cultivated in England.) 
Hoot and base of stem woody. Brands numerous, diffuse, prostrate, very slender, often interlaced, a foot or 
