THE TASMANIAN FLORA. 



163 



margins and flower-stalks somewhat ciliated. Leaves lanceolate, with a broad 

 lobedbase in the larger ones, 1-3 inches long, shortly stalked. Inflorescence 

 terminal or in the terminal axils, in a rather loose, slightly divided, 

 few-flowered panicle in most Tasmanian forms, the termination of the panicle 

 reduced to spikes in the typical form. Perianth-segments about 1^ line long. 

 Nut rather swollen. 



Common in many parts in the north ; Deloraine, Apsley River ; also in 

 Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria. It extends also to Eastern Asia 

 and New Zealand. Fl. Nov.-Dec. 



3. P. PROSTRATUM, JR. Br. A Small perennial with a prostrate woody stem and 

 ascending or erect branches, 1-2 feet long. Leaves lanceolate to nearly linear 

 ^-Ij inch long, shortly stalked. Stipules hairy on the surface. Flowers in 

 short, rather loose, axillary or terminal spikes. Perianth about 1 line long. 

 Style-branches 2. Nut biconvex. 



Common in many parts of the north and central districts. It occurs throughout 

 Australia and in New Zealand. Fl. Nov.-Jan. 



4. P. MINUS, Jlitds. A slender decumbent or sub-erect annual, often 1-2 feet 

 long, glabrous in the typical form, but in this as well as in other details 

 approaching its immediate allies. Leaves lanceolate, acute, narrowed into a very 

 short stalk, 2 or 3 inches long. Stipules with long, slender, marginal cilia. 

 Flowers in slender terminal spikes. Bracts often bearing marginal cilia. 

 Perianth about f line long, not glandular. Style-branches 2 or 3. Nuts 

 obscurely 3-angled. 



Common in the north. Throughout Australia. A common plant in the 

 Northern Hemisphere. Fl. Oct.-Jan. 



The Tasmanian form departs rather from the type, in most specimens, in 

 bearing strigose hairs on the midribs, and often on the margins of the 

 leaves also. 



5. P. SUBSESSILE, R. Br. A perennial with a woody base and erect branched 

 stems of 2-3 feet in height, more or less clothed with short coarse hairs. Leaves 

 lanceolate, acute, narrowed into a short stalk, mostly about 3 inches long 

 Stipules bordered with long cilia. Flowers in slender terminal spikes Periants 

 about 1 'ine long, not glandular. Style-branches 2, rather long. Nut biconvex 



Confined to the north ; also throughout Eastern Australia. Fl. Nov.-Dec. 



6. P. LAPATHIFOLIUM, Linn. A tall erect annual, 1-2 feet high, usually 

 glabrous, but often sprinkled in parts with strigose, pubescent, or glandular hairs. 

 Leaves broadly lanceolate, acute, and contracted in a short staik, mostly 3-4 

 inches long. Stipules without or with few marginal cilia. Flowers in terminal 

 and terminal-axillary spikes, looser and broader than in its immediate allies. 

 Perianth-segments about 1 line long, usually dotted with short glandular hairs. 

 Style-branches 2. Nut flat, with slightly concave or convex sui-faces. 



Recorded from Port Dalrymple. (P) 



It occurs throughout Eastern Australia, and is a common plant in the Northern 

 Hemisphere. Fl. Nov.-Dec. 



3. MUEHLENBECKlA. 



Perianth of 5 segments, equal or nearly so. Stamens and pistil seldom perfect 

 in the flowers of the same plant. Stamens usually 8. Ovary 3-angled. Style 

 trifld. Nut enclosed in the perianth. 



The genus is small, but widely spread in the Southern Hemisphere. It is 

 closely connected to Polygonum. 



Leaves 1-3 inches. Plant widely creeping ... ... 1. M.adfressa. 



Leaves under \ inch. Plant small, matted ... ... 2. M. axillaris. 



