170 



Proteaceae. 



Hakea leucoptera, R. Br., var. Kippistiana. Leigh 

 Creek. Small tree or large shrub; flowers white, not 

 scented . 



H . Ednieana, Tate. Leigh Creek. 



Santalaceae. 



Fusanus spicalus, R. Br. Leigh Creek. A small tree 

 3-4 m. high, locally known as the "Quandong," and much 

 smaller than F. acuminatus, R. Br., which is distinguished 

 as the ''Native Peach." The leaves of F. spicatus are 

 thicker, broader, of a darker green, and the fruit is inedible. 



POLYGONACFAF. 



Muehlenbeckia coccoloboides, nov. sp. (tab. xv.J. Suf- 

 frutex circiter metralis, cat/lib us ramosis glaucis diffusis 

 flexilibus basi lignosis, foliis lineari-lanceolatis margine 

 recv/rvis 1-2 cm. longis caducis, floribus dioicis in fasciculos 

 subaphyllos 3-10-floros ad nodis dispositis, bracteis calyptri- 

 formibus ocreisque tenerrimis caducissimis, perianthio 

 masculo breviter pedicellato 5 mm. longo octandro, lobis 5 

 obtusis patentibus tubo paulo longioribus (rarius perianthio 

 sexlobo enneandro), pistillt rudimento minuto, perianthio 

 femineo ovoideo vel globoso carnoso subsessili circiter 3 mm. 

 diametro, lobis 5 (rarius 6) erectis obtusis minutis (vix 

 1 mm. longis ) , styli ramis margine crenato-dentatis, stigmate 

 decurrente, sta • minibus sterilibus connatisque vesiculam 

 simulantibus, perianthio fructifero aucto carnoso ovoideo vel 

 subgloboso plus minus angulato rubro vel rubescente 6-7 mm. 

 longo fructum omnino involvente, mice trigond nigra nitente, 

 seminis testa rubella verruculosd, embryone laterali curvo. 



Lake Blanche; fruiting September, 1916; S. A. White. 

 In the fleshy enlarged fruiting perianth, tipped by the minute 

 lobes and completely enclosing the fruit, this species comes 

 very near to the genus Coccoloba, but differs in its habit, 

 which is quite that of Muehlenbeckia, in the dioecious flowers, 

 narrow cotyledons, and non-ruminate albumen. It stands 

 nearest to J/. Cu)ininghamii, F. v. M., from which it is dis- 

 tinguished by the peculiar female perianth, the flowers in 

 separate clusters and never in spikes, the stigmas not term- 

 inal but decurrent on the style-branches, etc. 



This interesting desert plant was found by Captain White 

 during the Museum Expedition to Cooper Creek in 1916, 

 but his specimens were only in fruit. The seed germinated 

 readily, and I was able to cultivate several plants in North 

 Adelaide, but they did not produce flowers until June, 1918. 



