11 



PORTULAC ACEAE . 



Calandrinia disperma, n. sp. (Tab. iii.) Herba 

 annua, caulibus diffusis usque metrum longis, foliis carnosis 

 clavatis subcompressis, radicalibus 1-4 cm. longis caulinis 

 brevioribus, racemis paucifloris paniculam formantibus, 

 pedicellis fructiferis deflexis demum sub calyce sursum curv- 

 atis et incrassatis, floribus parvis inconspicuis, petalis 4-5 

 sepala obtusa 1 mm. longa parum superantibus post antliesin 

 calyptram efficientibus, staminibus 4-5 basi in annulum coalitis 

 nee petalis ejusdem floris numero plerumque aequalibus nee 

 iis oppositis, styli ramis 3, ovulis 2, capsula conico-cylindrica 

 circiter 5 mm. longa sexcostata basi in modum tori columnae 

 subito ampliata apice velut per porum aperta alioqui non 

 dehiscente, seminibus 2 pyriformibus superpositis comparate 

 magnis (1J-2 mm. longis) nigris nitentibus basin versus 

 granulatis, radicula supera. 



Flowering and fruiting in sandy ground at Ooldea in 

 September (J. M. B.). Nearest to C . corrigioloides , F. v. M., 

 both in the long capsule and in the fewness of ovules and 

 seeds. Differs in the longer and stouter stems ; more numerous 

 stamens; fruiting pedicels much longer, spreading, curved 

 upwards and thickened under the calyx; capsule of firmer 

 consistence, not opening by valves, swollen at the base like 

 the torus of a column; and especially in the comparatively 

 large pear-shaped seeds, granular towards their base, sus- 

 pended from long funicles which rise from the base of the 

 capsule and are bent over in the upper part, somewhat after 

 the manner of those of the section Basigonia of Frankenia. 

 Following the shape of the seed, the embryo is not perfectly 

 annular and the superior (epitropous) radicle extends con- 

 siderably beyond the cotyledons. In all the flowers examined 

 I have found only 2 ovules, and normally both these ripen 

 into seeds. 



C. polyandra, (Hook.) Benth. The common parakeelya 

 at Tarcoola and other places in the sandhill country as far 

 west as Ooldea appears to be this species and not C. balon- 

 nensis, Lindl. The styles (3, rarely 5) are quite free and 

 stigmatic in their whole length; stamens 40 to 50, in 2-3 rows 

 united in a ring towards the base; anthers from ovoid to 

 oblong; petals large, showy, red, 5, rarely 6; peduncles 

 swollen at base; pedicels reflexed in fruit; seeds minute (h mm. 

 diam.), copper-coloured, concentrically granular. A white- 

 flowered form grows at Ooldea Soak. Mueller at one time 

 expressed the opinion (Fragm. i., 177, ann. 1859) that C. 

 polyandra scarcely differs from C. balonnensis, but later, in 

 his 1st and 2nd Census, he kept them separate. 



