THE TASMANIAN PLOEA. 173 



3. P. GLAUCA, R. Br. A small much -branched shrub, usually 1-2 feet high, 

 branches and leaves quite glabrous. Leaves opposite, rather thick and concave, 

 sessile, broadly or narrowly oblong, mostly ;^-f inch long. Flowers in terminal, 

 medium-sized heads, surrounded by an involucre of four bracts, rather broader 

 and larger than the foliage leaves, receptacle densely hairy. Perianth hairy, 

 -nearly | inch long, the tube very slender; lobes 1| line long; the base 

 persistent, the upper portion falling from just above the ovary. Fruit with a 

 dry pericarp. 



Tery common on coasts ; also nearly throughout the coast of Australia. 

 Fl. Feb.-Mar. 



4. P. LiNiFOLiA, Sm. An erect branched shrub, from 1-3 feet high, glabrous, 

 ■except the inflorescence. Leaves opposite, shortly stalked, linear to spathulate, 

 ^-1 inch long, (^oncave in small-leaved forms, flat to convex with recurved 

 margins in large-leaved varieties. Flowers in terminal, nodding, rather large 

 heads, subtended by 4 large broad bracts that are hairless on both sides. 

 Perianth g inch or more long, more or less silky-hairy, tube slender, lobes 2 

 lines long, receptacle densely hairy, lower portion of perianth persistent round 

 the fruit. Fruit with a dry membranous pericarp. P. spathulata, Benth. " Fl. 

 Aust." (in part); P. cern.ua, Hook. " Fl. Tas." (in part). 



Common in heathy land ; also throughout Eastern and Southern Australia. 

 Fl. spring and summer. 



The species is variable in robustness, and I cannot find in the field more 

 constant characters separating the forms described as distinct in the 

 " Fl. Aust." 



5. P. LIGUSTRINA, liab. An erect branched shrub, usually 4-6 feet high, 

 glabrous or nearly so, except the inflorescence. Leaves opposite, broadly ovate 

 to nearly linear, sessile, 1-2 inches long. Flowers numerous, in large, terminal, 

 usually nodding, heads, subtended by 4-6 very broad bracts that are usually 

 silky on the margin and inner surface. Perianth ^ inch long, tube very slender, 

 lobes hardly 2 lines long, silky-hairy, the base persistent round the fruit. 

 Stamens or pistil often immature in the same flower. Fruit with a dry 

 membranous pericarp. 



Common in most districts ; also in New South Wales, Victoria, and South 

 Australia. Fl. Dec. -Jan. 



6. P. HUMILIS, M. Br. A small erect shrub, from a few inches to 1 foot high, 

 silky on the branches and inflorescence, slightly so on the bracts, and often on 

 the leaves. Leaves opposite, sessile, narrowly to broadly oblong, \-\ inch long. 

 Flowers in medium-sized, erect, terminal heads, subtended by 4 or 6 bracts 

 slightly broader than the foliage leaves, silky at least on the inner surface. 

 Perianth silky-hairy, usually about J inch long, tube slender, lobes 1-2 lines long, 

 base persistent round the fruit. Fruit with a dry membranous pericarp. 



Very common, principally in dry places ; also in Victoria, South Australia, 

 and New South "Wales. Fl. spring and summer. 



7. P. SERICEA, R. Br. An erect branched shrub, usually 1-2 feet high, silky- 

 hairy, except the upper surfaces of the leaves. Leaves opposite, nearly sessile, 

 broadly oblong, about ^ inch long, under surface densely covered with silvery- 

 silky hairs. Flowers in rather large, erect, terminal heads. Bracts not differing 

 from foliage leavesu Perianth.: hardly | inch long, not differing in detail from 

 that of P. humilis. Fruit also similar. 



Common towards summits of mountains. Fl. Oct.-Jan. 



8. P. uiVBA, Lah. An erect shrub, from 2-6 feet high, all parts except the 

 upper surfaces of the leaves clothed with rather cottony hairs. Leaves opposite, 

 nearly sessile, from orbicular to narrow-obovate, margins recurved, about | inch 

 long. Flowers in rather large terminal heads, the subtending leaves not difEering 



