« THE LOBANTIIACKAE OF AUSTRALIA, 1., 



Vie., xxiv., (N.S.), 1911, p. 69) described L. signatus F. v. M. var. pidchea Ewart 

 from Western Australia. 



In 1912 F. M. Bailey (Queensland Ag. Joum., xxix., p. 190) described and 

 figured L. Quandang var. Bancrofti Bail. In his 'Comprehensive Catalogue of 

 Queensland Plants" he enumerated 17 species of Loranthiis, and also figured L. 

 Quandang var. Bancrofti Bail., L. cons^yicuus Bail., L. (Beauverdiana) dictyo- 

 phlebus F. v. M., Viscum angulatum Hey., V. orientale, V. australe Bail, and V. 

 articulatum. Three species of Notothixos were also recorded by him. 



W. V. Fitzgerald (Joum. P'roe. Roy. Soc. W.A., iii., 1916-17, 35) described 

 two new species, L. ferruginiflonis and L. biangulaUis. He also recorded L. 

 signatus F. v. M., L. longiflorus Desr., L. acacioid.es A. Cunn. and Viscum 

 articulatum Burm. 



C. H. Ostenfeld in a "Contribution to West Australian Botany," (Dansk 

 ■Botanisk Arkiv., Bd. 2, No. 8, Pt. 11, 1908, p. 14) published several species 

 under Bugler's revised classification. 



Professor Ewart (Flora Northern Territory, 1917, p. 88) I'eeorded 14 species 

 for the Territory. 



Mr. D. A. Herbert recently contributed a noteworthy paper on Nuytsia 

 floribunda E. Br. (Joum. Proc.'Roy. Soc. W.A., v., 1918-19, p. 72) in which 

 he definitely settles tlie question of parasitism of Nuytsia. 



Range and. Origin. 



If we take into consideration the range of the Family Lorcmthaceae, we are 

 impressed with the fact that it is very largely represented in the warmer parts 

 of the globe and readily draw deductions that it had its origin in the tropics 

 and gTadually extended to the cooler temperatures north and south of the 

 equator. What its origin was, it is difficult to explain. Perhaps the most 

 feasible explanation is that intimated by Meyen when discussing tropical vege- 

 tation (GeogTaphy of Plants, p. 164) : "But not only do the trunks of trees 

 serve as the support of so luxuriant a vegetation, but high amongst the foliage 

 are seen. the scarlet flowers of Loranthus, shining Tillandsiae, Pitcamiae, and 

 a whole host of climbing plants, which, taking root in the ground, at first twine 

 up the trunks and branches, but afterwards forsake their parent soil, and 

 continue to gTow as parasites. Von Martins, during his long abode in Brazil, 

 has traced with extraordinary aeuteness the manner in which these singular 

 plants grow, and his description will give the best idea of it." (Reise, etc., iii., 

 32). 



Keeble (Trans. Linn. Soc., 2nd Ser., v., 1896, 101) describing the adven- 

 titious roots of a seedling plant of Loranthus loniceroides, says, "I cannot but 

 think that this early putting out of the aerial root is a phenomenon of heredity 

 and throws light on the course by which the Loranthaeeae become parasites; the 

 seeds, originally sticky, often lodged on the trees, and, as in many species of 

 Ficus, these seeds, germinating, threw out roots which rapidly reached the ground 

 or the earth which collects in the forks of trees." 



Synopsis of the Family. 



The family Loranthaeeae, according to Engler's classification, comprises 25 

 genera and 811 species. It is reasonable to suppose- that since the publication of 

 Engler's classification the number has greatly increased, and it is highly pro- 

 bable tliere are now upward of about 30 genera and 1,000 species. Fur- 

 ther additions are evident when the tropical and sub-tropical floras are syste- 



