THE TASMANIAN FLORA. 181 



filiform branches. Fruit in a compact woody cone, the bracteoles enlarging, 

 enclosing the ovary, forming 2 lateral valves that open when the fruit is ripe. 



The order contains but 1 genus, and is confined to the Southern Hemisphere ; it 

 is principally Australian. 



CASUAEINA. 

 Shrubs or trees without apparent leaves, the branches numerously articulated, 

 each segment surrounded at the base by a toothed sheath. Branches and 

 flowers whorled, and corresponding in number to the teeth of the sheaths. 



Teeth of the sheaths usually 9-12. Cone-valves very 

 prominent, acute. 



Branchlets drooping. Valves of cone smooth on 



back ... ... ... ... ... ... \. C. quadrivalvis. 



Branchlets erect. Valves with a very prominent 



dorsal point A. C.Ucuspidata. 



Teeth of sheaths 6-8. Cone-valves, if prominent, 

 obtuse. 



Valves prominent, obtuse ... 2. C. suberosa. 



Valves hardly protruding, round on margin ... .3. C. distyla. 



1. C. QUABEiTALVis, Lob . A small much-branched tree, usually 10-20 feet 

 high, the branchlets usually drooping. The younger segments conspicuously 

 striate, sheath with 9-12 acute teeth. Flowers usually dioecious, but not always 

 so. Staminate spikes often 2-4 inches long ; when mature the sheaths do not 

 overlap. Fruit cone 1-1^ inch long, oblong ; valves triangular, acute, and very 

 prominent. C. striata, Ait. 



Very common. It occurs also in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, 

 and "West Australia. Fl. Sept.-Oct. 



2. C. SUBEEOSA, 0.&, D. A small mach-branched tree, mostly 10-20 feet high, 

 the branchlets erect. The younger branchlets slender, finely striate, the sheath 

 bearing 6-8 rather broad acute teeth, all parts quite glabrous. Flowers 

 monoecious. Staminate spikes |-| inches long, rather compact, but the sheaths 

 of the mature spike not overlapping. Fruit cones about 1 inch long, valves 

 prominent, obtuse. 



Very common ; also in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South 

 Australia. Fl. Oct.-Nov. 



3. C. DISTYLA, Vent. An erect, branched, rigid shrub, usually 4-6 feet high, the 

 branchlets erect, often pubescent. Sheath bearing 6-8 broad teeth. Flowers 

 dioecious. Staminate spikes usually 1-1^ inch long. Fruit cones f-1 inch long, 

 oblong, the valves hardly protruding, very obtuse or rounded on the margin. 



Common, principally on hills and- in heathy places ; also throughout extra- 

 tropical Australia. Fl. Sept.-Oct. 



4. C. BicuspiDATA, Benth. A small much-branched tree, the branchlets erect 

 and striate, sheaths with 9-12 slender acute teeth. Staminate spike 1-2 inches 

 long. Fruit cone 1-1^ inch long ; the valves prominent, acute, each one bearing a 

 long prominent protuberance on its back. 



Bass Straits ; also in West and South Australia. Fl, spring. 



Oedee hXXll.— CD PULIFERyE. 



Flowers monoecious. Staminate : in spikes, each consisting of an irregular 

 obscure perianth and usually few stamens. Pistillate : solitary or few together, 

 surrounded by numerous free or combined bracts. Perianth tubular, usually 



