THE TASMANIAN FLORA. 



49 



lobes, f-1 inch long. Flowers in the upper axils, the leaves gradually reduced to 

 bracts. Petals about 1 line long. S. ceratophyUaf'Endl. ; S. pinnatifida,'S. 



Grlenorchy, Brighton, North Coast ; probably widely dispersed, but overlooked ; 

 also throughout all Australia, except the extreme west. Fl. summer. 



2. H. MiCEANTHA, R. Br. Small, smooth, depressed, the ends of the branches 

 ascending. Leaves opposite, nearly orbicular, and sessile, 1-4 lines. Flowers 

 minute, in many loose spikes, ending the branches . Petals \ line long. Fruit 

 prominently 8-nerved, smooth, and shining. 



Abundant at all altitudes ; also Southern Australia, New Zealand, and Eastern 

 Asia. Fl. Nov. -Jan. 



3. H. TEUCEioiDBS, Gray. Erect, branched, rough, with scabrid emergences, 

 1-2 feet. Leaves opposite, ovate, toothed, with cordate base, |-1 inch long, upper 

 ones bract-like containing the flowers. Flowers solitary in the axils, forming 

 loose, terminal, leafy spikes, \\ line long. Fruit tuberculate and obscurely 

 8-ribbed. S. gunnii, H. 



Very common ; also throughout extra-tropical Australia. Fl. spring and 

 summer. 



4. H. teteagtNa, S. General habit and structure the same as the last, only 

 generally smaller, 6-9 inches high. Leaves narrow, oblong, narrowed at the 

 base. 



Very common in dry situations ; also in Southern and Eastern Australia and 

 New Zealand. Fl. spring and summer. 



5. H. DBPRESSA, Walp. Depressed and ascending, smooth-polished to some- 

 what hispid, the general character and details of -ST. teucrioides, only the fruit 

 prominently ribbed and polished. 



Very common on mountains above 2000 feet ; also Victoria, New South Wales, 

 Queensland, and New Zealand. In Southern Tasmania at and below 2000 feet 

 this plant suspiciously approaches the typical forms of JS. teucrioides. Fl. 

 Oct-Dec. 



2. MEIONECTES. 



Pistil of 2 carpels, flattened. Sepals and petals 2. Stamens 4. 



Confined to the one species. 



M. BROWNll, If. Depressed, creeping, often submerged. Leaves alternate, 

 divided into few linear lobes, ^-1 inch long. Flowers very shortly stalked, few in 

 the upper axils. Sepals minute. Petals 1 line long. Fruit 1 line, flattened, 

 flask-shaped. Saloragis meionecti's, F. v. M. 



North-west, west, and south-west parts ; also extra -tropical Australia. In 

 fresh-water pools. Fl. Dec. 



3. MTRIOPHYLLUM. 



Flowers nearly always unisexual. Stamens 4-8. Sepals short, 4. Petals 4. 

 Pistil of 2 or 4 1-seeded carpels, indurating and separating when ripe. Aquatic 

 herbs. Flower small, in the upper axils. 

 World-wide. Fresh- water plants. 

 Leaves in whorls. 



Upper leaves broad, usually 4 in the whorl ... 1. M. elatinoides. 



Upper leaves narrow, usually 6 in the whorl ... 2. M. variifolium. 

 Leaves opposite, entire. 



Leaves oblong ... ... ... ■■■ ... 3. M. amphibium. 



Leaves linear ... ... ... ... ... 4. M. pedwnculatum. 



Leaves alternate, linear, minute ... ... .. 5. M. integrifolium. 



1. M. ELATINOIDES, Gaud. Often 1-2 feet. Leaves in whorls, usually of 4, 

 submerged ones I-|-2 inches long, divided into numerous capillary lobes. Aerial 



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