158 THE TASMANIAN FLORA. 



Tho genus consists of fleshy leafless herbs or shrubs, with a woody axis, and 

 the upper portion at least segmented off into distinct portions. The flowers 

 gi'ow at the joints, and are overlapped and buried by the segment beneath them. 

 The distribution is world-wide. 



Shrub. Flowers 3 together ... ... ... ... 1. S. arhmcula. 



Herb. Flowers 5 or 7 ... ... ... ... ... 2. S. amtralis. 



1. AKBUSCnLA, R. Br. An erect, much-branched, and spreading shrub, from 

 6 inches to 8 feet high, the lower portions hard and woody, the ends of the- 

 branches fleshy ; segments of the branches mostly from j-^ inch long, 1-1| line 

 diameter. Flowers towards the ends of the branches, the flowering-segments 

 somewhat shortened and thickened. Flowers in three, more or less connate. 

 Stamen solitary. 



On salt marshes. Common in the south, George's Bay, Circular Head, and 

 Bass Straits ; also in Victoria and West Australia. Fl. Nov. 



2. S. AUSTEALIS, Sol. A procumbent spreading perennial with woody axes and 

 thick fleshy branches, segments }-l inch long and j-^ inch thick, obscurely 

 bilobed at their upper terminations. Flowering-segments shorter and thicker, 

 forming terminal spikes. Flowers usually 6 or 7, clustered together in each joint. 

 Stamens usually 2. S. indica, B, Br. (^not of Willd.) 



Very common on coasts and salt marshes ; also throughout Southern Australia. 

 It occurs in New Zealand. Fl. Nov. 



Order hXU.—AMARANTACE.^. 



Perianth of 5 free or slightly united segments, rigid, and partially or entirely 

 scarious. Stamens 5 or fewer, opposite the perianth-segments ; in many genera 

 the filaments are united at the base and form a cup round the pistil, and there 

 are often developed teeth on this cup intermediate with the filaments. Ovary 

 1-celled, with 1 reolinate ovule; in some forms, not Tasmanian, the ovary contains 

 many ovules. Style usually simple and entire, with a capitate stigma. Fruit a 

 membranous utricle in Tasmanian forms. 



A large order, widely distributed in temperate parts of both Hemispheres. 

 Leaves nearly cylindrical, fleshy ... .., ... 1. Semichroa. 



Leaves broadly obovate to lanceolate. Flowers in 



large, dense, terminal clusters 2. Trichinium, ♦ 



Leaves linear to lanceolate. Flowers in small axillary 



clusters. Perianth white 3. Alternaiithera. 



I. HEMICHEOA. 



Flowers usually bisexual. Perianth of 5 free segments, slightly or not at all 

 scarious. Stamens T) or fewer, united towards the base. Style bifid. 



A very small genus, confined to Australian distribution. 



H. PENTANDEA, R. Br. A Small, prostrate, slightly-branched perennial, with 

 ascending or erect branches, mostly 6-9 inches. Leaves linear-lanceolate, fleshy, 

 nearly cylindrical, ^-1 inch long. Flowers solitary in fhe axils, sessile, but 

 clasped by 2 ovate acute bracts. Perianth pink, erect, about 3 lines long in most 

 Tasmanian specimens, but often much shorter. Stamens 5, always short, in 

 many plants rudimentary and not developing anthers. Pistil with a glolsose 

 ovary and thick erect style that is grooved throughout, and a bifid stigma. 

 Fruit about 1 line diameter, and enclosed in the persistent perianth. Polycnemon 

 pe/i.tandrun, F. v. M. 



Common in most saline marshes; also throughout Southern Australia. Fl. , 

 Nov. -Jan. 



