THE TASMANIAN FLORA. 221 



Var. bracteata. A variable variety or oonnecting-link between tlie last two ; 

 the habit approaching X. gracilis, bat the inner perianth and bracteoles 

 ofttn very close to -X. opercidata. Common on wet heaths. 



Okdeii LXXXI. JUNCAGEJE. 



Perianth inferior, of 6 free or partially united segments, persistent, usually 

 scarious. Stamens 6, rarely 3, inserted at the base and usually on the perianth. 

 Ovary superior, 3-celled, or 1-celled with 3 basal or parietal placentas. Style 

 simple or 3-branched. Ovules solitary or numerous to each carpel. Fruit a 

 capsule. 



A very large order, distributed throughout the world, running without a clear 

 demarkation into Liliacem. 



Stems flat, rigid. Dioecious ... ... ... ... 1. Xerotes. 



Leaves grass-like, with few long hairs. Ovules 3 in 



the ovary ... ... "... ... ... ... 2. Luzula. 



Leaves, if flat, glabrous, Ovules several ... ... 3. Juncua. 



1. XEROTES. 



Flowers dioecious : males with 6 stamens and a rudimentary or no ovary ; 

 females with a 3-celled ovary, with 1 ovule in each "cell, style 3-lobed nearly to 

 the base, stamens absent or very rudimentary. 



A rather large genus, only one species, from New Caledonia, extending beyond 

 Australian distribution. 



Leaves and stem 1-2 feet high ... ... ... ... 1. X. longifolia. 



Leaves and stem under 6 inches ... ... ... 2. X. glauca. 



1. Xi LONGIFOLIA, R. Br. Plant tufted. Leaves mostly at the base, 1-2 feet 

 long and 3-6 lines wide,- rather rigid, usually bifid at the apex. Stem flat, 1-2 

 feet high. Flowers in small clusters, along the branches of a rather long 

 irregular panicle. Perianth coriaceous, about 1 line long, more membranous in 

 the females. Capsule globose, 2-2i lines diameter, indurated, shining. 



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

 South Australia. Fl. Nov. 



2. X. GLAUOA, R. Br. A small tufted plant. Leaves chiefly at the base, 

 about 3 inches long and 1 line wide, curved or straight. Stem flat, 1-2 inches 

 long. Flowers in few, rather dense, clusters, in an interrupted spike or panicle. 

 Male perianth coriaceous, under 1 line long, tubular, 6-lobed ;. female perianth 

 l-|-2 lines long, segments free. Capsule about 2 lines long, marked with obscure 

 transverse striae. 



Common in many localities, principally in the north, near Launceston, Norfolk 

 Plains, Brighton ; also in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and 

 Western Australia. Fl. Nov. -Dec. 



2. LUZULA. 



Perianth-segments free, scarious. Stamens 6. Ovary 1-celled, with 3 erect 

 oviiles. Style slender, with 3 rather long lobes. 



A small genus, with a distribution as wide as the order. 



Leaves with a thickened margin ... ... ... \. h. oldfieldii. 



Leaves without a plainly thickened margin ... ... 2. L. campestris. 



1. L. OLDFIELDII, Hook. Plant usually in tufts. Leaves mostly at the base of 

 the stem, grass-like, bearing few slender hairs on 'the margin, 4-6 inches long 

 and 2-4 lines broad, the margin conspicuously thickened. Stem 4-12 inches high, 

 slender, bearing 2 or 3 leaves besides the leafy bracts subtending the inflorescence. 



