55 



ON A NEW CENTROLEPIDEiE. 



By L. Eodway. 



(Plate.) 



(Read July, 1894.) 



The small order Centrokftidea, an offshoot of Restiacea, lias 

 its distribution mostly Australian. Tasmania is particularly 

 fortunate in species numbering 12 out of a total of about 24 

 that have been described. 



The order includes, according to the usually accepted classi- 

 fication, four genera: Aphelia, Centrokpis (including Alepyrum)> 

 Trithuria, and Gaimardia. Tasmania has long had recorded 

 good specimens of the first three genera, and I have now the 

 good fortune of adding a member of the fourth, Gaimardia, 

 which has hitherto been found only in New Zealand and the 

 South Seas to S. America. 



The genus Gaimardia differs from Oentrolepis in the carpels 

 being placed on the same plane, and possessing two stamens. 



I describe the plant in conjunction with our truly respected 

 Fellow, Baron von Mueller, and we name it after its first 

 discoverer, W. Fitzgerald, F.B.H.S. 



Gaimardia fitzgeraldi, n. sp. A small perennial forming 

 pale green densely matted cushions from a few inches to 2 

 feet, sometimes more scattered. Stems slender, l-2in. 

 Leaves numerous, sub-distichous, sub-erect, but spreading 

 towards the tip ; sheath stem clasping at the base only 2-3 

 lines long, with a tuft of woolly hairs at the junction with 

 the lamina ; lamina, \ to fin. long, filiform, with a flat upper 

 surface ; the apex piliferous and hyaline. Scafes solitary in 

 each year ; lateral, or if terminal, soon thrust aside by an 

 innovating shoot about |in. long, slender. Lower floral bract, 

 glabrous, about 1 line long, with an obtuse or toothed apex 

 containing one flower. Upper bract rudimentary and bearing 

 a rudiment. Scales none. Stamens 2, and alternating with 

 the carpels. Carpels 2 in the same plane, connate. Styles 

 free, diverging. 



Mount Geikie, W. Fitzgerald. Adamson's Peak and range 

 from Hartz to Mount La Perouse. 



The plate is from fresh flowering specimens I procured 

 on Adamson's Eange. 



