BY BAK0N FEED. VON MUELLEK, KUC.M.G. 



23$ 



succulent, ovate-campanulate, flesh-coloured, streaked by six 

 stronger and six fainter longitudinal colourations; its six 

 lobes much shorter than the tube, three semilanceolar-deltoid, 

 spreading, much the shortest ; three opposite to the bracts, 

 nearly ovate-cuneate, converging, at the summit overlapping 

 and there connate, keeled by a broadish, flattened, slightly 

 excurrent midline ; stamens six, opposite to the calyx-lobes ; 

 filaments broad, from the place of affixion near the summit 

 of the calyx-tube slightly ascending, there dark-red and 

 somewhat channelled; thence suddenly bent downward 

 inside the calyx and connate ; continued beyond the anthers 

 into a dilated membraneous bidenticulated appendage; 

 anthers pale, their two cells parallel, ellipsoid, slightly 

 distant from each other, longitudinally dehiscent; style short, 

 whitish, thinly cylindrical ; stigmas three, colourless, short- 

 bifid ; ovulary adnate to the base of the calyx, one-celled, 

 devoid of colour, almost hemispheric, excavatedly depressed 

 at the surface ; placentaries three, nearly cordate ; ovules 

 very numerous, on conspicuous funicles arising from the 

 whole face of the placentary, provided around with an ample 

 laxe pellucid integument of equal breadth. Complete roots 

 and ripe fruit not yet obtained. In examining the quickly 

 perishable and scanty material, I missed ascertaining the 

 form of the pollen-grains, also determining the relative outer 

 and inner position of the calyx-lobes, regarding which Miers 

 however offers observations on Myostoma already. The 

 rootlet, on which the plant grew bear many pyriform small 

 carnulent short-stalked bodies, somewhat hollow. 



That so remarkable, and to some extent also showy plant 

 should have evaded hitherto observation, although since 

 almost nearly 100 years the region about the estuary of the 

 Derwent has been searched for plants, finds perhaps its 

 explanation in the fact, that in all likelihood the flower only 

 is peeping above the soil between decaying foliage, and thus 

 might be easily taken for a young Aseroe or some other 

 fungus, especially as the smell would lead also to that conclu- 

 sion. Furthermore, each flower must be very ephemerous and 

 perishable, and falls probably also quickly to the prey of 

 various insects, attracted by the odour. Even in Europe the 

 Epipogum Grmelini is often overlooked, when it merely 

 emerges among rotten Fagus-leaves, particularly as the 

 flowers are not high-coloured. 



After now, through Mr. Eodway's circumspectness, the 

 Tasmanian Thismia became not only known, but also its 

 manner of growth elucidated, it will likely be found in other 

 places of the island there, perhaps also in New Zealand and 

 in Continental Australia. It should further be ascertained, 

 whether it lives exclusively on the roots of the Musk- Aster, or 

 whether it is nourished also by the roots of any other plants. 



