44 FLORA OF TASMANIA. [ Alismacee. 
Gen. VI. CYMODOCEA, König. 
Flores dioici, in pedicello primum vagina folii incluso demum elongato solitarii. Perianthium 0. 
Masc. Stamina 2, sessilia, 2-locularia; polline confervoideo. Fam. Ovaria 2, libera, 1-locularia, 1-ovu- 
lata; ovulo pendulo. Stylus filiformis; stigmatibus 2. Capsule 2, bivalves. Semen pendulum, exalbu- 
minosum.—Herbe marine ; caule sarmentoso, ramisque artieulatis ; foliis linearibus. 
I am very doubtful whether the Ruppia antarctica of Labillardiére should be referred to this genus, having 
seen no flower or fruit, and the male flower alone being hitherto described by Gaudichaud. C. antarctica strongly 
resembles, in habit and general appearance, some Indian plants referred to Thalassia, as T. Indica, but the generic 
character of Thalassia attributes a three-leaved perianth to that genus, flowers enclosed in a peduncled spathe, and 
nine anthers to the male flower, characters wholly at variance with Gaudichaud's description of Ruppia antarctica- 
(Name from Kvuodorn, a sea-nymph.) 
1. Cymodocea antarctica (Endl. Gen. 230; Plant. Preiss. ii. 273); caule elongato flexuoso 
ramoso, ramis elongatis teretibus v. compressis annulatis apice foliosis, foliis patulis amplexicaulibus linea- 
ribus late truncato-bidentatis, ligula brevissima truncata.—Posidonia antarctica, Spreng. Syst. Veg. i. 181. 
Caulinia? antarctica, Br. Prodr. 339. Ruppia antarctica, Lab. Fl. Nov. Holl. ii. 116. £. 264; Gaud. in 
Frey. Voy. Bot. 430. t. xl. f. 2. Graumullera, Reich., fid. Endl. Gen. Amphibolis zosterifolia, Agardh, 
Syst. Alg. 192. (Gunn, 1358.) 
Has. Rocks in the sea, Georgetown, Gunn. 
DisrRiB. East, west, and south coasts of Australia. ; 
Stems sparingly branched, 1-2 feet long, pale brown, cylindrical, jointed, joints swollen, as thick as a pigeon's 
quill. Leaves erowded at the end of the branches, alternate, amplexicaul, 14-2 inches long, 4 inch broad, linear, 
with a broad shallow notch at the tip, dark-green, nerveless. Ligula very short, decurrent, forming inflexed margins 
to the base of the leaf (as in Posidonia). 
Gen. VII. ZOSTERA, Z. 
Flores monoici v. dioici. Spatha foliacea, basi folii longitudinaliter adnata.  Spadiz membranaceus, 
inclusus, antice staminibus ovariisgue biseriatis onustus. Anthere solitarize, sessiles, peltatee, 1-loculares, 
polline confervoideo. Ovaria pauca, dorso prope apicem affixa, 1-locularia; ovulo 1, pendulo, orthotropo ; 
stylo persistente, subulato ; stigmatibus 2, capillaribus. Utriculus evalvis. Semen pendulum, exalbumino- 
sum ; Zesta membranacea, longitudinaliter striata; embryone macropoda, radicula infera, cotyledone inflexa, 
rima longitudinali inclusa.—Herbe marine ; caule repente, radicante ; foliis gramineis, basi vaginantibus. 
Slender, creeping, marine plants, called “ Sea-wrack” in England, with grassy leaves, which are extremely 
variable in breadth and length. There is probably but one species (of the varieties of which many more have 
been made), which is found in all seas, but not hitherto found in flower or fruit in those of Australia and New 
Zealand.—Spathe adnate to the inner face of the base of the leaves. Stamens and ovaries inserted in two rows on 
the face of a flat thin, spadix. Flowers monecious. Perianth 0. Male Jlower a sessile, one-celled anther, with 
sert pollen. Female an ovate ovary, with one long, filiform style and two stigmata, one cell and one ovule. 
Fruit 8 veas, bursting irregularly. Seed pendulous, without albumen, a large radicle and inflexed cotyledon 
lodged in a slit. (Name from ¿oornp, a ribbon ; in allusion to the form of the leaves.) 
1. Zostera marina ? (Linn. Sp. Pl. 1734).—Br. Prodr. 338. (Gunn, 1348.) 
Son €— in the sea, especially in muddy estuaries, forming extensive green banks.— (v. v.) 
ISTRIB. uropean and North-American shores, from Iceland southwards, the Mediterranean, Cape 
of Good Hope, Australia, and New Zealand. 
