il92 Eivart and Tovey : 



Calostkmma purpureum, R.Br. '♦ Garland Lily." 

 (Hydrocharitaceae). 

 Lake Hattah, J. E. Dixon, April, 1910. 

 A definite locality in Victoria for this plant. 



Cassytha. (Lauraceae). 



In regard to the germination of seed of Cassytha, Mr. C. C. 

 Brittlebank writes as follo^ys : — 



" About eleven or twelve years ago, at Myrniong, I obtained 

 numbers of young seedling plants in all stages of growth from seeds 

 just sprouting, rooted seedlings, and even plants, which had become 

 fixed to young gum tw^igs. In several seedlings, which had reached 

 this stage, the lower part had withered, but in some cases the plant 

 had broken at the base. As to the conditions prevailing prior to 

 and during the observations. A bush fire had passed through the 

 stunted gum scrub, which was heavily loaded with Cassytha. Both 

 host and parasite had been destroyed by the fire. Heavy rain fell 

 shortly after, and continued to do so at intervals. The burnt gums 

 sent out sprouts from their ba«es, and it was upon these young 

 suckers that the more mature seedlings had become attached. This 

 was the only time that I ever saw the seedlings of this plant, and 

 it w^as due to this that I so carefully observed them." Evidently 

 the germination of Cassytha is rare, owing to its hard seeds, and 

 in this case the heat of the bush fire softened the seed coats and 

 hence caused the absorption of water and germination of the seeds. 

 The duration of the seeds in the" soil is not known, but some buried 

 in the soil of a pot for three years were found to be capable of ger- 

 minating after being filed. 



Mr. T. S. Hart has also forwarded me seedlings of C.melantha, 

 found growing wild near Bairnsdale, in October, and apparently 

 germinating naturally. It is possible that the difficulty of finding 

 seedlings may be due to the fact that germination only takes place 

 naturally during one month in the year, and that the rooted attach- 

 ment is soon lost. 



Casuarina Helmsii. Ewart and Gordon, n.sp. (Oasuarinaceae). 



Gnarlbine, W. Australia, R. Helms, 12/11/91. Eucla, W. Aus- 

 tralia, J. D. Batt, 1886. (See Plate XII.). 



This plant was named C. humilis by Helms, but has terete instead 

 •of angular branches. The following is the description : — 



