140 THE TASMANIAN FLORA. 



under 1 line long ; lobes 4, short, broad. Corolla-tube ratber shorter than the 

 calyx ; lobes short, ciliated on the margin. Stamens 4, short. 



So nth Esk River, Clyde Vale; Bass Strait; also in New South. Wales and 

 Victoria. It extends to New Zealand. PI. spring and summer. 



6. LIMOSELLA. 



Sepals 5, combined ; lobes about as long as the tube. Corolla-tube short and 

 broad ; lobes 5, nearly equal. Stamens 4. Ovary incompletely 2-celled, the 

 dissepiment deficient towards the top. Capsule globular. 



A genus of 2 or 3 species. The Tasmanian plant is common throughout the 

 Northern Hemisphere. 



L. AQUATiCA, Linn. A small tufted annual, sometimes creeping. Leaves 

 usually clustered, but alternate when a branch is formed, linear, and about |-1 

 inch long in common Tasmanian form, mostly oblong and narrowed into a long 

 stalk in the European variety. Flowers small, usually I or 2 in each tuft, on 

 stalks shorter than the leaves. Calyx about 1 line long. Corolla-tube rather 

 longer than the calyx ; lobes spreading. Style rather long. Stigma small, 

 round. Capsule ovoid, exceeding the persistent calyx. 



Common in marshy situations ; also throughout extra-tropical Australia. PI. 

 spring. 



1. VBEONIOA. 



Sepals usually 4, rarely 6, joined only towards their base. Corolla-tube 

 usually very short ; lobes 4, rarely 5, spreading, nearly equal. Stamens 2. 

 Capsule usually flattened, and notched in the centre. Leaves opposite. 



A very large genus, found principally in temperate climates, but extending 

 into the tropics. Its distribution is world-wide, but most Australian forms are 

 endemic. 



Flowers clustered in racemes towards the ends of the 

 branches. 

 Shrub or tall perennial. 



Leaves oblong to lanceolate, J-| inch ... ... 1. V. formosa. 



Leaves ovate-lanceolate, 2-4 inches ... ... 2. V. dermentia. 



Ascending or sub-erect perennial. 



Leaves divided into linear segments ... ... .3. F. nivea. 



Leaves linear or nearly so ... ... ... 4<. V. gracilis. 



Leaves ovate to lanceolate. 



Leaves sessile or nearly so ... ... ... 5. F. distans. 



Leaves distinctly stalked. 



Leaves broadly ovate, \-l inch, rarely 

 longer. 

 Hirsute, capsule notched .. . ... ... 6. V. calycina. 



Pubescent, capsule hardly notched ... 7. F. plebeja. 



Leaves broadly lanceolate, 1-3 inches ... 8. V.notabilis. 



Plowers solitary in the axils. 



Flowers shortly stalked, forming leafy racemes ... 9. F. serpilUfolia. 



Flowers on long stalks, scattered 10. F. agrestis. 



1. V. FOEMOSA, R. Br. An erect, much-branched, and spreading shrub, 

 usually 2-3 feet high, sometimes more. Leaves decussate, narrow-oblong to 

 lanceolate, often recurved, J-| inch long. Flowers various shades of light blue, 

 in numerous loose racemes towards the ends of the branches. Calyx about 1 

 line long, divided nearly to the base into 5 oblong lobes. Corolla 4-lobed, the 

 lower lobe rather narrower than the others. Tube) short. Capsule ovate, 

 swollen, about 2| lines long. 



Very common, chiefly in rocky or hilly situations. PI. Sept.-Nov. 



