THE TASMANIAN FLORA. 179 



2. P. GUNNii, Hook. A tall, erect, much-branched shrub. Leaves in two 

 opposite rows, alternate, shortly stalked, broadly oblong to nearly orbicular, 

 mostly |-| inch long, ilowers few together, in the axils, for a considerable 

 length of the branches, usually 3 or 4 staminate and 1 pistillate flower in each 

 axil, all on stalks 1-4 lines long. Perianth rather more than \ line diameter. 

 Capsule about 2 lines diameter. 



Principally on the North Coast, St. Marys, George's Bay, Glenorohy ; also in 

 New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. Fl. Nov. 



Oeder hXX.—UBTICACE.^. 



Flowers seldom bearing perfect stamens and pistil. Perianth calyx-like, 

 mostly of 3-6 segments. Stamens in most cases similar in number to and 

 opposite the calyx-lobes, occasionally fewer. Ovary superior, 1-celled, with 1 

 erect or pendulous ovule. Styles 2, free or partially united, sometimes reduced 

 and tufted. Fruit a small dry or succulent nut or drupe. 



The order is very large, and is represented almost throughout the world. In 

 warmer climates species often attain the dimensions of large trees. 



Leaves opposite, ovate, bearing stinging hairs. 



Flowers many together ... ... ... ... 3. Urtica. 



Leaves alternate. Flowers few together. 



Leaves entire... ; 1. Parietaria. 



■Leaves toothed 2. Australina. 



1. PARIETARIA. 



Complete and incomplete flowers on the same plant. In complete and staminate 

 flowers the perianth is deeply lobed, with as many stamens as lobes ; in the purely 

 pistillate flowers the lobes are short, and the perianth-tube encloses the ovary. 

 Fruit dry. 



The distribution is world-wide. 



P. DEBiLis, Forst. A depressed or ascending succulent annual, slender, 6 inches, 

 to 1 foot high, more or less pubescent. Leaves alternate, stalked, broadly ovate, 

 entire, lateral veins conspicuous, few, the lowest pair nearly as conspicuous as. 

 the midrib, j-l inch long. Flowers in small, shortly-stalked, axillary clusters. 

 Perianth nearly 1 line long, mostly 4-lobed. Stigma nearly sessile, tufted. 



Landfall Creek, near Launceston, and other localities in the north. It occurs 

 throughout Australia, and has nearly as wide a distribution as the genus. Fl. 

 spring and summer. 



2. AUSTRALINA. 



Stamens and pistil on separate flowers on the same plant. Staminate flower 

 with an irregular, nearly hood-like, perianth, and a single stamen. The filament 

 is long and bent on itself, ^pon maturity suddenly straightening and scattering 

 the pollen. Pistillate perianth tubular, enclosing the ovary. Fruit dry, 

 enclosed in the persistent perianth. 



The genus contains about 4 species, only one of which is found outside 

 Australian and New Zealand distribution. 



Leaves under 1 inch, very broad ... ... ... A. pusilla. 



Leaves 1-2 inches, ovate ... ... ... ... A. muelleri. 



1. A. PUSILLA, Gaud. A small, succulent, creeping herb, rooting at the 

 nodes. Leaves alternate, stalked, nearly orbicular, bordered by few coarse blunt 

 teeth, mostly |-| inch long, Flowers few together in the axils, perianth ^-f 



