400 THE LORANTHACEAE OP AUSTRALIA^ 111., 



worked out when ample material is available. Field work is also necessary in 

 <;onneetion with certain characters. 



5. LORANTHUs Whiteii, n.sp. (Plate xliv.) 



Frutex glaber confertus ramis divaricatis maturioribus furfuraceis junioribus 

 g'labris; lignum durum futrum. Folia opposita supeme nitentia orbicularia ad 

 elliptica, 3-5 cm. diam. subito in petiolum compressum attenuata,. Inflorescentia. 

 Flores plerumque sing-uli in axillaribus vel nodosis fasciculis ut in L. alyxifolius, 

 at nonnumquam communis pedunculus 2 bracteatos flores breviter pedicellatos 

 fert. Gemmae elavatae superne angulares 2-4 cm. Braeteae crassae orbicularos 

 <;oncave. Calyx cupularis truncatus. Corolla 5-6 petalis liberis rubeseentibus 

 finnis spongiosis. Filamenta breviora antheris adnatis linearibus. Stylus par- 

 vus capitatus. Fructus non visus. 



Glabrous and apparently compact shrubs with divaricate branches, old 

 branches scurfy, the young ones smooth; wood hard, pale brown. Leaves op- 

 posite, shining above, orbicular to elliptical, 3-5 cm. long, and nearly as broad, 

 abruptly narrowed into a short compressed petiole, 4-6 mm. long, thick at the 

 base, much thinner towards the margin, somewhat coriaceous, the spreading 

 nerves almost obscure. 



Flowers nearly all single, in axillary or in nodose clusters, as in L. alyxi- 

 folius, but occasionally the very short common peduncle bearing biflorate, shortly 

 pedicellate, bracteate flowers. Peduncles, pedicels, bracts, and calyces minutely 

 ferruginous-tomentose. Bracts thick, orbicular, concave, acute or truncate, the 

 margins ciliate. Calyx cupular, truncate, 3 mm. long, the limb slightly spread- 

 ing. Buds clavate, slightly angular, nearly twice as thick at the top as at the 

 base, in some specimens contracted in the middle, 2-4 cm. long. Petals 5-6, free, 

 reddish, thick and spongy, usually lanceolate. Filaments somewhat shorter than 

 the linear adnate anthei-s. Style terete, exceeding the anthers by about 2 mm.; 

 stigma small, capitate. Fruit not seen. 



Named in honor of Mr. Cyril Tenison "White, Government Botanist of 

 Queensland. 



Syn.—L. alyxifolius F.v.M. (bis.) 



Range. — It is, so far, confined to the north-east coast of Queensland, and 

 has been collected in the following localities: — 



Mount Bellenden Ker, 5,200 ft. (W. S. Sayer, 1887. Labelled L. alyxifolius 

 in Melbourne Herbarium in Mueller's handwriting) ; Mount Bartle Frere, Bel- 

 lenden Ker, Top Camp (F. M. Bailey, Bellenden Ker Expedition, 1889) ; Ather- 

 ton Scrub (R. Mitchell, 8. 1911. The type). 



Affinities. — Its neai'est affinity appears to be L. sanguineus F.v.M., from 

 v.'hieh it is distinguished by the differently shaped and broader leaves, inflorescence, 

 the shape of the calyx, and the vestiture. 



1'his species has the peculiar appearance of L. alyxifolius F.v.M., botli in 

 the leaves and in the mode of flowering, but the clavate and somewhat angular 

 hud, together with the free petals, places it in a different section from L. alyxi- 

 folius. 



When not in flower it could easily be mistaken for Phrygilanthus celastroides, 

 as the leaves are very similar. 



The wood of this species appears to be considerably harder than most 

 species, and is darker in colour. 



Hosts not stated. 



