THE TASMANIAN FLORA. 165 



CASSYTHA. 



Perianth-segments 6, 3 outer ones short and broad. Stamens 12, in 2 series, 

 always some of them imperfect. Anthers 2-celled. Ovary free at the time of 

 flowering, becoming immersed in the enlarged fleshy perianth-tube, and crowned 

 by the withered perianth-segments in fruit. 



The genus consists entirely of wiry leafless parasites. With the exception of 

 one or two species found in tropical parts of Asia, Africa, and America, it is 

 entirely Australian. 



Perianth under 1 line long. Fruit glabrous, ovoid ... 1. C. glabella. 



Perianth l|-2 lines long. Fruit globose. 



Plant pubescent ... ... ... ... ... 2. C. pubescens. 



Plant glabrous, or nearly so ... ... ... ... 3. C. melantha. 



1. C. GLABELLA, R. Br. Stems long and slender, often red, trailing on the 

 ground or over undergrowth, glabrous in all parts. Flowers usually yellow, 

 few together in small stalked heads, lateral or in small irregular terminal 

 racemes. Perianth under 1 line long. Fruit narrowly to broadly oblong, 2-.3 

 lines long. 



Very common in heathy and dry country. It occurs throughout Australia. 

 PI. all summer. 



2. C. PUBESCENS, R. Br. A tough, spreading, or much-tangled parasite, often 

 living at a considerable distance from the ground, pubescent in most parts. 

 Flowers few together, in small, dense, shortly-stalked or sessile heads at intervals 

 along the stems. Perianth about 1| inch long. Fruit variable, mostly about 3 

 lines long, and from globose (with flattened ends) to ovoid, always pubescent. 



Very common ; also throughout Australia. Fl. spring and summer. 



3. C. MELANTHA, R. Br. Similar in habit to the last, only more robust and 

 glabrous, except the perianth, and that often so. Flowers few, in small, dense, 

 shortly-stalked heads at intervals along the stems. Perianth about 2 lines long. 

 Fruit broadly ovoid to globular, glabrous, 4 to nearly 6 lines long. 



Near Launceston, Geoj'ge's Bay, Kelvedon, Bass Straits ; also throughout 

 extra-tropical Australia. Fl. Oct.-Nov. 



Order LXVII. PROTEACE^. 



Perianth deciduous, regular or irregular, consisting of 4 segments, more or 

 less cohering either towards the base or apex. Stamens 4, opposite the perianth- 

 segments, and usually inserted on them, the filaments incorporated with the 

 perianth from close to the anther to nearly free to the base. Ovary l-celled, 

 with 1 or many ovules. Fruit various, usually a drupe or follicle. Seeds usually 

 winged. 



The order is fairly dispersed throughout the Southern Hemisphere, and in 

 Australia contains a great number of genera consisting of most varied 

 developments. In Tasmania it is but poorly represented. 



Flowers in a dense cone-like spike. 



Cone I inch long. Leaves divided, pungent ... 1. LiopogOn. 



Cone 2-8 inches. Leaves entire or toothed ... ... 12. Banksm. 



Flowers in terminal or apparently terminal heads, 

 spikes, or racemes. 

 Leaves linear or cylindrical. 



Plant silky-white. Flowers in numerous narrow 



spikes. Fruit, a small nut 2. Canospermum. 



Flowers in short spikes or racemes. Fruit a 



pubescent follicle 7. Orites. 



