138 THE TASMANIAN FLOKA. 



Tasmanian foi-ms with usually 5 spreading, nearly equal, lobes. Stamens usually 

 2 or 4, when a fifth is present often imperfect or only a filament, when 2 only 

 the rudiments of the other pair often present. Ovary 2-oelled, with several 

 ovules in each. Placenta axile. Style simple. Stigma 2-lobed, rarely entire. 

 Fruit a 2-celled capsule, rarely succulent. 



A very large order, of diverse forms. Closely allied to Solanacea. Its 

 distribution is world-wide. 



Flowers nearly regular. 



Flowers minute. Leaves mostly linear. Mud 

 plants. 

 Leaves opposite. Plant creeping ... ... 5. Glossostigma. 



Leaves tufted or alternate 6. Limobella. 



Flowers conspicuous. 



Flowers yellow, I inch long. Stamens 4. Shrub 1. Anthocercis. 

 Flowers blue or white, j inch long. Stamens 2 7. Veronica. 

 Flowers white, | inch long. Stamens 4. Herb 8. Ourisia. 

 Flowers distinctly irregular. 



Flowers solitary or few together. 

 Flowers large, purple. Stamens 4. 



Leaves scattered. Peduncle short ... ... 2. Mimulus. 



Leaves tufted. Peduncle long... ... ... 3. Mazus. 



Flowers whitish, nearly sessile. Stamens 2 ... 4. Gratiola. 

 Flowers numerous, in terminal spikes ... ... 9. Euphrasia. 



\. ANTHOCERCIS. 



Sepals united ; lobes long or short. Corolla tubular below ; lobes spreading, 

 nearly equal. , Stamens 4, one pair longer than the other, a rudiment of a fifth 

 often present. Fruit capsular. 



A purely Australian genus, of about 18 species. Only one, and that endemic, 

 is found in Tasmania. Often placed in Solanaceo:. 



A. TASMANICA, JSooh. An erect shrub, often attaining many feet, most parts 

 lightly clothed with stellate hairs. Leaves oblong, entire, contracted into a 

 short stalk, margins usually recurved, \-\\ inch long. Flowers few together, in 

 axillary racemes towards the ends of the branches. Calyx about 3 lines long ; 

 lobes linear, rather longer than the tube. Corolla |-| inch long ; lobes linear, 

 spreading, rather longer than the tube, cream-coloured, tube often lined wit^ 

 purple. Capsule enclosed in the calyx, nearly globular. 



In many partsj on the Bast Coast. Fl. Sept.-Dec. 



2. MIMULUS. 



Sepals united nearly to the apex, with prominent angles at their junctiona. 

 Corolla tubular at the base, limb irregular, 2-lipped ; upper lip erect or 

 spreading, 2-lobed ; lower lip spreading, 3-lobed ; all the lobes broad and 

 rounded. Stamens 4. 



The genus is widely distributed in the temperate regions of both Hemispheres. 



M. BE PENS, R. Br. A small perennial, creeping in mud, and sending up 

 ascending or erect branches. Leaves opposite, sessile or nearly so, ovate or 

 oblong, mostly about j inch long. Flowers solitary, axillary, on short but 

 lengthening stalks. Calyx about 2| lines long ; lobes very short and tooth- 

 like. Corolla large for the size of the plant, purple with a yellow centre, J-^ 

 inch long. Capsule enclosed in the calyx, nearly globular. 



Very common in saline swamps and muddy places ; also throughout extra- 

 tropical Australia and New Zealand. Fl. spring and summer. 



