220 THE TASMANIAN FLORA. 



outer segments. Stamens much exceeding the perianth. Capsule acute, about 

 I inch long. 



Said to occur in many parts, but doubtful ; also in New South Wales and 

 Victoria. Fl. Nov.-Deo. 



2. X. AUSTBALis, M. Br. Stem often 1-2 feet above the ground. Leaves mostly 

 3 or 4 feet long, angled, about l|-2 lines broad. Flowering-stem erect, simple, 

 3-8 feet high, the spike about 2 or 3 inches diameter, and covering rather more than 

 the upper half. Outer perianth-segments narrow, convex, acute, about 4 lines 

 long ; inner segments narrow, with a broader apex, about as long as the inner 

 ones. Stamens about | inch long. Capsule obtuse, about 4 lines long. 



Bruni Island, Grass-tree Hill, Richmond Road, George's Bay, North Coast, 

 <fco. : also Victoria. Fl. Nov. 



Order h^lL^.—XYRIDACE^. 



Perianth inferior, of 3 petaloid inner segments and 3 outer, scarious, much- 

 differentiated segments. Stamens 6, 3 often imperfect. Ovary imperfectly 

 3-celled. Fruit capsular. 



A small, extensively distributed, chiefly tropical, order. 



XTRIS. 



Inner perianth of 3 petaloid segments, with long slender claws and broad 

 spreading laminae ; outer perianth a thin scarious segment, wrapped round the 

 inner perianth and thrown off by it ; 2 bracteoles enclosing the Slower and 

 fruit. Stamens 6, 3 inner ones opposite the inner segments and inserted at the 

 base of the lamina, having a short filament and small ovate anther ; 3 outer 

 ones with long filaments inserted at the base of the ovary, usually bearing a tuft 

 of hairs or an imperfect anther, sometimes absent. Ovary imperfectly 3-eelled, 

 with numerous ovules on basal or partially parietal placentas. Style slender, 

 .3-branched. Fruit a capsule. Flowers crowded, in sub-spherical dense heads, 

 each flower subtended by a cartilaginous bract. 



The genus has as wide a range as the opder. 



Flowers pale yellow. Bracteoles keeled above ... 1. JC. operculata. 

 Flowers orange. Bracteoles not keeled ... ... 2. X. gracilis. 



1. X. OPBRCULATA, Lah. A densely-tufted perennial. Leaves crowded on the 

 rootstock with shining sheathing bases, the outer ones without laminse, or with 

 rather broader laminee than the inner leaves ; inner ones with laminae usually 

 about ^ line diameter, rather thick, straight or curved, 4-12 inches long, but 

 sometimes 1-1|^ line broad. Flowering-stem slender, usually 1-2 feet long. 

 Flower-head ovoid or globular, j-| inch diameter. Bracts nearly black, broad. 

 Bracteoles rather long and narrow, boat-like, with a prominent ciliated keel in 

 the upper half. Inner perianth pale yellow, with spreading, nearly orbicular, 

 laminse, about f-f inch diameter. Barren stamens, with a terminal dense tuft 

 of hairs. 



Common on wet heaths ; also in New South "Wales, Victoria, South Australia,, 

 and Queensland. Fl. Nov.-Jan. 



2. X. GRACILIS, R. Br. Similar in habit and detail to X. operculata, only 

 smaller. Leaves generally flatter and less rigid. Flower-head \-\ inch diameter. 

 Bracts loose or with spreading tips. B»acteoles broader, smooth, and shining, 

 without a keel. Inner perianth deep orange, the laminse hardly J inch broad. 



Near Strahan and Zeehan, Circular Head, Hampshire Hills, &c. ; also in 

 Queensland, New South "Wales, and Victoria. Fl. Nov.-Jan. 



