THE TASMANIAN FLORA. 



159 



2. TRICHINIUM. 



Flowers bisexual. Perianth of 5 segments, sometimes free, but usually slightly 

 united at the base, partly scariotis, and more or less covered on the outer surface 

 with long fine hairs. Stamens 5, unequal, often some rudimentary, united at the 

 base. Style slender, with a minute capitate stigma. 



The genus contains about 50 species, and is limited to Australian distribution. 



T. SPATHLTLATCTM, R. Br. A small perennial, with a thick rootstock, and 

 radiating prostrate stems, with ascending ends often 6 inches long. Leaves 

 •oblong, narrowed below into a short stalk, ^-l inch long. Flowers numerous, in 

 a dense, ovate, terminal head of 2-4 inches long, and nearly 1 inch in diameter. 

 Each dower subtended by a brown scarious bract, broadly lanceolate, 2| lines 

 long, and 2 braoteoles that are thin, transparent, and rather smaller. Perianth- 

 segments linear, 6 lines long, slightly united at the base, and copiously clothed 

 with long, slender, articulated hairs. Stamens shortly united at the base, unequal, 

 often '2 or 3 without anthers. Ovary, globose, usually hairy on the upper surf ace. 

 Style long, slender, cu:pved. Ptilotun spathulatus, Poir, 



Common in dry pastures ; also throughout Southern Australia. Fi. Sept.- Jan. 



3. ALTBRNANTHEEA. 



Flowers bisexual. Perianth of 6 free, or nearly free, scarious glabrous 

 segments. Stamens unequal, seldom all perfect, united below, and often with 

 alternating teeth on the cup. Style very short. Stigma capitate. 



Spread thi'oughout the warmer parts of both Hemispheres. 



A. DENi'lCULATA, R. JBr. Stems prostrate, creeping and rooting at the nodes 

 with ascending or erect, usually simple, branches, 6-9 inches long. Leaves 

 lanceolate to linear, opposite, mostly about 1 inch long. Flowers in small, dense, 

 axillary clusters. Perianth-segments narrow, acute, white, f-l| line long. 

 Stamens about j- line long, only 2 or 3 maturing. Style very short. A . sessilis, 

 var. Hook. ; A. triandra. Lam 



Near Launceston and Clyde Vale ; also in Queensland, New South Wales, and 

 Victoria. Fl. Nov.-Dec. 



Ordek IjKIII.—PARONYCHIACEJE. 



Perianth of 5 or fewer, united or free, partially scarious, segments. Stamens 

 of a similar number, opposite the perianth- lobes. Ovary i-celled, with 1, 

 reclinate ovule. Style 2 or 3-lobed. Fruit a small membranous utricle, enclosed 

 in the persistent perianth. 



A small order, closely related to Amarantacew, differing chiefly in habit. The 

 distribution is very wide throughout temperate and cool climates of both 

 Hemispheres. 



An erident descent from Caryophyllacea, indicating the true relationship 

 of these orders. 



SCLERANTHUS. 



Pei'ianth tubular, with short lobes, hardening after flowering. Stamens 5 or 

 fewer. Styles 2, slender. Loaves all linear, opposite, connected across the stem 

 by their expanded hyaline bases. 



A very small genus, with a distribution nearly as wide as the order, but often 

 extends to snb-trOpical climates. 



Flowers dispersed along the sti-ms. 



Perianth-lobes about f line. Stamen 1 ... ... 1. S.hiflorus. 



Perianth-lobes 1 line long. Stamens 5 ... ... 2. S. annuus. 



Flowers clustered at the ends of the branches. 



Perianth-lobes about 1 line long. Stamens usually 2 3. S. diaiider. 



