Genus Pultenaea. 107 



mens that I have seen seem to deserve the name " viscosa," which 

 certainly would fit the calyx of some specimens of P. mollis from the 

 Grampians. 



N.S.W.: Parramatta, (type), Clyde Mts., Wombaya Ra. Vic: 

 Southern Grampians; Portland. 



The specimens from Portland, and some from the Grampians 

 vary from the type in having shorter and more incurved leaves al- 

 most closed on the upper surface. 



Much confusion has existed regarding these last three species,. 

 Mueller himself having labelled as ** P. mollis,'' specimens from the 

 Buffalo Mts., which are undoubtedly P. hihbertioides. And between 

 P. viscosa and P. mollis, the same confusion has arisen.. Robertson's 

 Mt. Sturgeon specimens (p. 127, Fl. Aust.), which Mueller and Ben- 

 tham both considered as P. viscosa, are not available, but it is prob- 

 abfe that the specimens I sent to Mueller in 1898 from Mt. Sturgeon, 

 and which he determined as P. viscosa, were from the same plants as 

 Robertson found, and yet we have specimens from the same locality, 

 gathered by Mueller himself apparently from the same bushes, labelled 

 '* P. mollis, Lindl." and initialed by Bentham. 



Some must be wrong, and I suggest that the name P. mollis be 

 kept for the plant with very slender leaves, from the Grampians, 

 Dandenongs, and Macedon. In all these the bracteoles are broad and 

 keeled, and fixed belo-w the calyx, not on it. In no specimen written 

 up as mollis have I found the bracteoles narrow. However, until 

 we ascertain where Lindley's type specimen is to be seen, we shall 

 still be in doubt as to what plant is P. mollis. With regard to P. 

 viscosa, my opinion is that we have in the Grampians the normal 

 plant with almost flat leaves as in the Parramatta specimens, and 

 also a variety differing only in the shorter and more incurved leaves. 



There are two other recognised species, P. styphelioides, A. Cunn. 

 and P. procumliens, A. Cunn., which cannot be safely dealt with with- 

 out reference to type specimens, and they are not at present available 

 in Australia. Quoting the words of Messrs. Maiden and Betche in 

 a paper dealing with the doubtful position of certain forms of P. 

 microphylla (Proc. Linn. Soc. of N.S.W., Vol. 38, 1908, p. 311), I believe 

 that: — " In doubtful cases we can only record our difficulties, and 

 honest and careful expression may have value even if they prove 

 erroneous, since they will help to a better understanding of the 

 flora." 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE VII. 



Leafy branches, nat, size. 



(a) Calyx lobes x 2. 



(b) Bracts x 2. 



(c) Bracteoles x 2. 



(d) Ovary and style x 2. 



