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ADDITIONS TO THE FLORA OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA. 



No. 21. 



By J. M. Black. 

 [Read October 11, 1923.] 



Centrolepidaceae. 



Centrolepis Murrayi, n. sp. Herba annua nana glabra 5-6 mm. alta, 

 foHis subulatis, laminis 3-6 mm. longis, vaginis perbrevibus, foliis interioribus 

 ad vaginas accretas bracteiformes reductis basin bractearum floriferarum arete 

 amplexantibus, scapis nuHis, bracteis floriferis sessilibus aut subsessilibus folia 

 aequantibus, exteriore cum lamina vel arista foliacea parti vaginanti aequilonga, 

 interiore exaristata mucronulata, flore solitario intra bracteas et sine squamis,^ 

 carpellis 8-10. 



Centrolepis Murrayi. — A, plant enlarged. B, the 2 floral bracts embraced 

 at base by the broad sheath of an inner leaf. C, inner floral bract and 

 flower. D, seed. E, plant, natural size. 



Specimens of this plant in fruit only were collected by Professor Osborn 

 in the Casuarina forest on North Pearson Island in January, 1923. He was 

 afterwards successful in growing it from seed at the Adelaide University, and at 

 his suggestion it has been named in honour of Sir George Murray, K.C.M.G., 

 LL.M., Chief Justice of South Australia, who assisted the expedition to the 

 Pearson Islands by a generous donation. 



It differs from most other described species of Centrolepis by the complete 

 absence of scape, the floral bracts being sessile or almost so among the inner 

 leaves, which are for the most part reduced to the enlarged sheath, one such 

 sheath clasping the base of each pair of floral bracts and always on the side 

 occupied by the inner or upper bract. In size it takes its place among the other 

 small moss-like tufted species, but differs from C. humiUima, F. v. M., by the 

 2 floral bracts, the absence of scales, and the large number of carpels; from 

 C. cephaloformis, Reader, by the absence of scape, the awnless inner bract, and 

 the solitary flower; from C. miiscoides, Hieron., by the absence of scape, the 

 awnless inner bract, the solitary flower, and the absence of scales ; from C 



