THE TASMANIAN FLORA. 131 



Order hi.— GENTIAN ACE JE. 



Calyx-tube usually short, the lobes usually 4 or 5. Corolla regular, in most 

 genera gamopetalous, tube often very short. Lobes similar in number to lobes 

 ■of calyx. Stamens same number, inserted into the tube. Ovary l-celled, or 

 imperfectly divided by a more or less developed dissepiment. Ovules numerous. 

 Placentas parietal, except where dissepiment is nearly or quite complete. Style 

 single. Fruit capsular, rarely succulent. 



A large order in the Northern Hemisphere ; very poorly represented in 

 southern temperate parts. 



Erect, with opposite leaves. 



Corolla-lobes much shorter than tube. 



Calyx divided nearly to the base 1. Sebcea. 



Calyx with very short obscure lobes 2. Erythrcea. 



Corolla-lobes much exceeding tube 3. Genfiana. 



Erect or creeping. Leaves alternate or radical ... 4. Limmnthemum. 



1. SEB^A. 

 Calyx deeply divided, the lobes 4 or 5. Corolla-tube cylindrical. Lobes short, 

 similar in number to calyx-lobes . Stamens inserted in the throat of corolla-tube. 

 Ovary completely 2-celled. Placenta consequently axile. 



A small genus, occurring in many parts of the Southern Hemisphere. 



Flowers in 5 parts 1. S. ooata. 



Flowers in 4 parts 2. S. albidiflora. 



1. S. OVATA, It. Br. An erect, simple, or slightly- branched annual, 2-8 inches 

 high. Leaves sessile, opposite, broadly ovate. Flowers in loose, terminal, 

 irregular cymes, stalked or nearly sessile. Calyx 2| lines long, the lobes 

 lanceolate, acute, keeled. Corolla yellow, the tube as long as the calyx. Lobes 

 much shorter. 



Very common in pastures. It occurs throughout extra- tropical Australia. 

 PI. Sept.-Nov. 



2. S. ALBIDIFLOEA, F. V. M. A very similar plant to the last, but differs in the 

 compacter inflorescence and 4-merous flowers. Erect, simple, or slightly- 

 branched annual, 1-3 inches high. Leaves similar to last. Flowers all sessile 

 or nearly so, in compact, terminal, and lateral cymes. Calyx-lobes broad, obtuse, 

 translucent on the margin, green, but not keeled along the centre. Corolla 

 whitish, hardly exceeding the calyx. 



Muddy Plains, George Town, Riverton, near George's Bay ; also in Victoria 

 ■and South Australia. Fl. Nov.-Dec. 



2. ERTTHR^A. 



Calyx-lobes usually very short, 4 or 5. Corolla-tube cylindrical. Lobes 

 spreading, similar in number to calyx. Stamens inserted in the tube. Ovary 

 l-celled, with 2 parietal placentas. Style deciduous. 



Widely spread in northern temperate parts. A solitary species occurs in 

 Australian distribution. 



E. AtrSTRALis, R. Br. An erect sparely-branched annual, 6-18 inches high. 

 Leaves opposite, oblong to lanceolate, obtuse, mostly f-1 inch long. Flowers in 

 a dichotomous leafy cyme, sessile. Calyx about ^ inch long, the lobes 4, very short. 

 Corolla pink, rather longer or shorter than the calyx. Lobes 4, oblong, spreading, 

 rather short. Capsule oblong, shorter than the calyx. 



Huonville, salt marshes on the banks of the Tamar. It occurs throughout 

 Australia and parts of the Pacific, and differs from the European E. spicata only 

 in the 4-partite floral whorl. Fl. Dec-Jan. 



