54 THE TASMANIAN FLORA. 



the tube, and persistently adherent to the bark of the branches. Flowers in 

 dense terminal spikes. 



A large Australian genus, only one species (M. leucadendron, L., common gilso 

 to the Indian Archipelago) extending beyond the district. 



Leaves opposite. 



Leaves j-| inch, broad, acute \. M. squarrosa. 



Leaves 1 line, blunt ..2. M. gibhosa. 



Leaves alternate. 



Leaves ovate to lanceolate ... ... ... ... 3. M. squamea. 



Leaves linear, obtuse ... ... ... ... 4. M. ericifolia. 



Leaves lanceolate, obtuse ... ... ... ... 6. M. pustulata. 



1. M. SQTJAKEOSA, Sm. Erect, rather rigid shrub or small tree. Leaves in 

 decussate pairs, broadly ovate or cordate, acute, j-|- inch long. Flowers pale 

 yellow, numerous, in an oblong spike. 



Common in wet heaths ; also in South Australia, Victoria, and New Souch 

 Wales. M. Nov.-Deo. 



2. M. GiBBOSA, Lab. An erect, rather rigid, wiry shrub. Leaves oblong, 

 blunt, usually longitudinally convex, 1-2 lines long, mostly opposite. Flowers 

 pink-purple, in small dense terminal spikes. 



Common in wet places ; also in South Australia and Victoria. Fl. Feb. 



3. M. SQUAMEA, Lab. A tall, rather rigid shrub. Leaves alternate, hroadly 

 ovate to narrow lanceolate, acute, .3-6 lines long, mostly concave. Flowers pink- 

 purple or yellow, rather numerous, in spherical terminal spikes. 



Common in wet heaths ; also South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales. 

 Fl. Oct.-Feb. 



4. M. EEiciFOLiA, Sm. An erect, much-branched shrub or small tree, often 30 

 feet high. Leaves alternate, narrow, linear, blunt. Flowers pale yellow, 

 numerous, dense, in short ovate terminal spikes. 



Common in -porthern and north-eastern districts, Bass Straits ; also South 

 Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland. Fl. Aug.-Dec. 



5. M. PUSTULATA, S. A small shrub. Leaves alternate, linear to oblong or 

 cuneate, 2-3 lines. Flowers few, in small terminal spikes. 



Near Swansea ; also South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales. Fl. 

 spring and early summer. 



8. EUCALYPTUS. 



Ovary 3-6-celled, immersed in the floral tube, which is often continued beyond 

 it. Sepals usually absent, when present united in a small outer operculum that 

 is shed before the bud has reached maturity. Petals united in an operculum 

 that falls ofi at flowering. Stamens numerous, free or nearly so. Fruit a 

 many-seeded capsule. 



A very large Australian genus, with three or four representatives extending to 

 Soath-East Asia. Tasmanian species belong to two sections of the genus. 



The primitive type of foliage appears to have been opposite and sessile. 

 This is still comnaon in the seedling, and reverted to in response to 

 irritation. It is also maintained more or less throughout life in a few 

 species. The flowering periods are too irregular to admit servieable 

 record. 

 Renanthee.*. Anther cells diverging from one another, forming a reniform 

 anther. Flowers commonly many in the umbel. 



i. Leaf equal-sided or nearly so. Fruit seldom con- 

 stricted at the orifice. Capsule seldom sunk ii. 

 Leaf unequal-sided ... ... ... ... ... vii. 



