156 THE TASMANIAN FLPRA. 



containing a seed vertically flattened in a direction parallel to the lobes of the 

 perianth, except in A. billardieri, where the seed is flattened at right angles to 

 the perianth. 



A very widely-spread genus, principally found on coasts. 



Shrubs covered with white scales. 



Leaves mostly under 1 inch. Pistillate flowers in 



conspicuous clusters or spikes ... ... 1. A. paludosa.. 



Leaves mostly exceeding 1 inch. Pistillate flowers 



in small axillary clusters 2. A. cinerea. 



Succulent herbs. Staminate and pistillate flowers 

 intermixed. 

 Green or mealy. Fruiting-perianth, conspicuous ... 3. ^ . patula. 

 Yellow and crystalline 4. A. billardwri. 



1. A. PALUDOSA, M. Br. A small, erect, spreading shrub, whitish, with 

 appressed scales. Leaves lanceolate to linear, blunt and contracted into a stalk, 

 entire, |-1 inch long. Flowers nearly or quite dioecious. Staminate flowers in 

 usually numerous globular clusters, on common, simple, or branched stalks 

 at the ends of the branches. Pistillate flowers in fewer heads, on shorter ^ 

 less-branched stalks, also formed in the leaf-axils. Fruiting-perianth broadly 

 ovate, acute, flat, about 2-4 lines long, but variable. 



■ Circular Head and other places on the North Coast ; also in Bass Straits. 

 It occurs throughout Southern Australia. Fl. Nov. 



2. A. CINEKBA, Poir. A sub-erect, spreading, or depressed shrub, usually 3 or 

 4 feet high, whitish, with appressed scales, rarely the upper surfaces 

 of the leaves green. Leaves narrow-oblong or lanceolate, sometimes broader 

 or almost linear, blunt, and narrowed into a short stalk, entire, mostly 

 1-2 inches long, but often longer, or all much smaller. Flowers partially 

 dioecious. Staminate flowers in globular heads, on a common, simple, or 

 branched stalk at the ends of the branches. Pistillate flowers in clustere 

 in the axils ; a few pistillate flowers also develop in the upper axils of the 

 staminate plants. Fruiting-perianth broadly rhomboidal, about 2 lines long, 

 fiat, but rather thickened. 



Common on coasts ; also throughout Australia. Fi. Nov.-Jan. 



3. A. PATULA, Zdnn. A sub-erect or prostrate annual, very variable in habit 

 and detail, dark-green, but the inflorescence and younger parts often pale with 

 scaly tomentum. Leaves narrowly or broadly lanceolate, entire, rarely tootied, 

 obscurely lobed or hastate, sometimes all under 1 inch, and often many 2-3 

 inches long. Flowers clustered in the upper leaf-axils, and also forming 

 terminal interrupted spikes or panicles. Staminate flowers not ^ line diameter, 

 stamens normally 5. Pistillate flowers about 1 line at the time of flowering 

 the perianth enlarging to a considerable extent, often to 4 or 5 lines subsequently. 

 Fruiting-perianth flat, rhomboidal or ovate, the lower third united. 



Possibly introduced. Common in cultivated and waste places near the sea. PI. 

 Nov.-Jan. 



The extreme variability of the plant has given rise to many species being 

 founded on it. The following forms have been rather freely dispersed in 

 Tasmania : — 



Var. angustifolm. Leaves all broadly to narrowly lanceolate. Fruiting- 

 perianth rhomboidal, slightly scaly. This plant is sub-erect or 

 depressed, and common in waste places on the banks of the Derwent 

 and Tamar. 



Yfiv. littnralin. Leaves narrowly lanceolate or linear. Fruiting-perianth, 

 rhomboidal, often white with tomentum. This form approaches some 



