178 THE TASMANIAN FLOKA. 



inch long. Flowers terminal, few together, each on a slender stalk, usually one- 

 pistillate mixed with 5 or 6 staminate flowers, but occasionally only one kind in 

 a cluster. Petals white, obovate, about I inch long. Capsule nearly globular, 

 rough, I inch diameter. R. major, J. MuelL, included. 



Near the coast in the north and east ; also in Eastern Australia from 

 Queensland to Victoria. Fl. Oct.-Dec. 



7. BERTTA. 



Calyx in the staminate flower petaloid, 6-segmented. Stamens numerouSf 

 united in a central column. Filaments shortly free. Anthers opening outwards, 

 •Pistil absent. Calyx of pistillate flower similar, but smaller. Ovary S-celled, 

 with 1 ovule in each. Styles 3, divided deeply into usually 3 branches. Fruit 

 capsular, oblong, 1-celled, and usually 1 -seeded. 



A purely Australian genus. 



B. EOSMARiNiFOLiA, Planch. A much-branched erect shrub, of 6-8 feet, the 

 young parts stellate-tomentose. Leaves alternate, sessile, linear, marging^ 

 closely revolute, mostly about \ inch long. Flowers axillary, solitary or few 

 together, on very short stalks, and a cluster of bracts close below the calyx, about 

 2 lines diameter, both kinds on the same plant. Ovary densely villous. 



South Esk and Nile Rivers ; also in New South Wales. Fl. Oct.-Nov. 



8. AMPEREA. 



Calyx in the staminate flowers deeply divided into 3-6 petaloid 'segments. 

 Stamens 10 or fewer, free or nearly so. Pistil quite absent. Pistillate flower with 

 a less petaloid calyx and a 3-celled ovary. Styles 3, bifid. Fruit capsular, the 

 component carpels separating, each bearing 2 short erect processes towards its- 

 apex. 



An Australian genus, of few species, and all but the one spreading to Tasmania 

 confined to West Australia. 



A. sPAETioiDBS, Bron. An erect or ascending herbaceous under- shrub, usually 

 1-2 feet high, numerous simple angled branches arising from a woody base. 

 Leaves often absent, narrow-oblong to linear, usually toothed, mostly \-\ inch 

 long, solitary at the distant nodes when present. Flowers in small, nearly sessile, 

 clusters at the nodes. Staminate flowers rather numerous. Pistillate ones eithei- 

 solitary or few together or surrounded by staminate ones, each subtended by a 

 few broad bracts. Perianth about] line long. Stamens about 8. 



Very common in poor heathy land and on hills. It occurs also in New South 

 Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Queensland. Fl. Nov.-Jan. 



9. PHYLLANTHUS. 

 Calyx more or less, 6 or 5, segmented, in the pistillate flowers narrower and less, 

 petaloid than in the staminate ones. Stamens mostly 3, united in a central 

 column or free. Ovary 3 or more celled, with 2 ovules in each cell. Fruit a 

 capsule, splitting into its component carpels. 



A large genus, common in tropical and warmer temperate parts. 



Leaves under ^ inch ... ... ... ... ... 1. P. australis. 



Leaves |-f inch 2. P. gunnii. 



1. P. ATJSTBALis, Hook. A small under-shrub, with a woody base and very 

 slender depressed or erect branches, few inches high. Leaves alternate, nearly 

 sessile, distant, and (chiefly towards the ends of the branches) oblong, mostly 

 2-3 lines long. Flowers solitary or few, in the axils, on stalks from |-1| line 

 long. Perianth about 1 line diameter. Capsule about 2 lines diameter. 



In many parts principally in the northern and central districts. Mount 

 Direction; also South Australia and New South Wales. Fl. Oct.-Dec. 



