THE TASMANIAN FLORA. 61 



1. MBSEMBRYANTHEMUM. 



Petals very numerous, linear. Stamens numerous. Pistil 6-oelled.. 



Leaves angled I. M. mquilaterak. 



Leaves terete ... ... ... . , ... ... 2. M. aitstrale. 



1. M. aiQUlLATERALE, Haw. A. procumbent, much-spreading perennial. 

 Leaves thick and fleshy, three-sided, opposite, and joined across the stem, 2-3 

 inches long. Ovary ^ inch long. Sepals unequal. Petals spreading to about 

 1-^ inch diameter, pink, purple. Capsule coriaceous, ^ inch diameter, slightly 

 convex above. 



Abundant on coasts. Common almost throughout Australia, and extends tO' 

 both North and South America. PI. spring and summer. 



2. M. AUSTKALB, Sol. A prostrate, creeping perennial, rooting at the nobes. 

 The leaves confined to the very short lateral branchlets, opposite, somewhat 

 flattened, but more often club-shaped, usually f inch long. Flowers red, usually 

 on stalks rather longer than the leaves, about 1 inch diameter, not differing in 

 essential details from those of M. cequilaterale. 



North and West Coast, Pittwater, and Muddy Plains. Probably on most salt 

 marshes with the last species. Throughout extra-tropical Australia. A common 

 New Zealand and South African plant.' PI. spring and summer. 



2. TETRAGONA. 



Calyx 3, 4, or 6 lobed. Petals none. Stamens sometimes very numerous, but 

 usually 12 or" 16 in Tasmanian species. Ovary 2-8-celled, with 1 pendulous 

 ovule in each cell. Styles as many as the cells, linear, free. Pruit a hardened 

 capsule. 



A common coast genus in the Southern Hemisphere. 



Leaves mostly exceeding 2 inches. Stamens in clusters 1. T. expansa. 

 Leaves mostly under 2 inches. Stamens scattered ... 2. T. implexicoma. 



1. P. EXPANSA, Z). C A prostrate, much-spreading perennial. Leaves ovate or 

 triangular, stalked, 2-4 inches long. Flowers small, solitary or two together, 

 shortly stalked or sessile. Calyx-lobes usually 4, about 2 lines long, yellow 

 inside, spreading. Stamens in bundles of 3 or 4. Ovary half buried, 3-8-celled. 

 Fruit ^-j inch diameter, globular and smooth, to more or less angular, and with 

 2-3 horn-like protuberances. 



North Coast. Throughout Eastern and Southern Australia ; New Zealand to 

 Asia and America. Fl. spring and sammer. 



2. P. IMPLEXICOMA, Hook. A prostrate, much-spreading perennial. Leaves 

 mostly crowded on small lateral branches, usually rhoniboid, stalked, thick, 

 crystalline below, mostly about 1 inch long. Flowers small, solitary or 2 together 

 in the upper axils, on slender stalks, often 1 inch long, polygamous. Sepals 

 about 2 lines long, broad, obtuse, yellowish. Stamens about 16, dispersed. 

 Fruit ribbed or tubercled, \ inch long. 



Very common on coasts. Throughout Australia and New Zealand. Fl. spring 

 and summer. 



Ordeb XXXVI.— VMBELLIFERJS. 



Pistil of 2 carpels attached by their inner sides to a columnar prolongation 

 of the torus, each bearing one pendulous ovule. Perianth superior. Sepals 5, 

 sometimes abortive. Petals 5, rarely absent, equal, or sometimes unequal. 

 Stamens 5, rarely fewer. Fruit not much altered from the flowering state of 

 the pistil, each carpel with its seed falling away from the column. Flowers 

 usually arranged in umbels, rarely solitary. 



