46 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



1869 by Dr. Buller, from New Zealand specimens, as Anas 

 gracilis, but subsequently identified by Dr. Finsch in 1869 w i tn 

 Anas gibberifrons. As regards the synonyms of this species, 

 after the positive statement of Dr. Finsch and Prof. Schlegel, I 

 think we can hardly accept Prof. Hutton's unsupported opinion 

 that A. gracilis is distinct from A. gibberifrons^ It was first dis- 

 covered by Salomon Midler in Timor, and originally described 

 by him as Anas gibberifrons. Both species may be seen in the 

 Melbourne Zoological Gardens. 



D. LE SOUEF. 



DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW AUSTRALIAN PLANTS, WITH 

 OCCASIONAL OTHER ANNOTATIONS. 



By Baron von Mueller, K.C.M.G., M. & Ph. D., F.R.S. 

 (Continued.) 

 Eriostemon Carruthersi. 



Rather tall, copiously beset with spreading soft hairlets ; leaves 

 crowded, on very short petioles, spreading, from an often rounded 

 base gradually upwards broad-linear, blunt, at the margin re- 

 curved ; umbels terminal, without any peduncle, while young 

 drooping; calyx comparatively large, its segments lanceolate- 

 linear ; petals from slightly to considerably longer than the calyx, 

 greenish or somewhat yellow, linear-lanceolate, channel-folded, 

 scantily and only outside beset with hairlets, contiguous along 

 the margin before expansion ; stamens about twice as long as 

 the petals, their filaments red, glabrous, their anthers centrifixed, 

 light-yellow, almost ellipsoid ; style as long as the stamens or 

 somewhat longer, red, capillulary-filiform ; stigma minute ; 

 ovularies glabrous, at the summit straight ; disk almost cupular, 

 five-furrowed. 



At Mornya, near the Clyde, on sandy coast-land ; W. Baeuerlen. 



Height, 1 to 2}4 ft. 



Allied to E. phylicoides, from which it is separated by more 

 conspicuous vestiture, by the usually greater width of the leaves, 

 by flowers of larger size and on longer pedicels, drooping before 

 full development, by different colour of the petals, by deep-red 

 filaments and style, by glabrous ovularies and perhaps also by 

 carpologic characteristics, the ripe fruit of either plant remaining 

 still unknown, although E. phylicoides was described already sixty- 

 five years ago ; besides the flowering time is much earlier, from 

 May to July. 



Our new species as regards flowers reminds of Diplolaena, 

 especially on account of the colour of the filaments, which seems 

 quite unique in the genus. From E. Ralstoni it differs already in 

 indument, smaller leaves, shape of calyx and ovularies. 



