226 THE TASMANIAN FLOKA. 



1. TRiaLOCHIN. 



Flowers usually hermaphrodite. Perianth of 6 or 3 scales. Stamens usually 

 as many as the perianth-segments, opposite and attached to them. Carpels 6, 

 but .3 are generally abortive. Ovules solitary in each carpel. 



The genus is small, but found throughout temperate and sub-tropical regions. 

 Plant robust. Stem 1-3 feet high. Leaves ^ inch 



diameter 3. T.-procera. 



Plant slender. Leaves under 2 lines diameter. 

 Flowers numerous, in a spike-like raceme. Flowers 



and fruit nearly globular .. . ... ... ... 1. T. striata. 



Flowers few or many, in a spreading raceme. 



Fruit linear... ... ... ... ... ... 2. 7'. centrocarpa. 



1. T. STRIATA, Ruiz. et. Pav. Creeping and tufted at the nodes. Leaves at 

 the base of the stem, filiform, except in robust forms, where they are somewhat 

 compressed and 1-1| line broad, 1 to about 9 inches long, generally but not 

 always shorter than the stem. Stem erect, simple, slender, 1 inch to nearly 



1 foot high, the inflorescence occupying the greater part. Flowers in a spike- 

 like raceme, very numerous. Perianth-segments about f line long, the inner 

 ones sometimes absent. Stamens 3 perfect ones within the outer segments, and 

 barren ones within the inner segments when present. Carpels attached to a 

 central axis, the perfect ones discoid with a short recurved style, falling off when 

 ripe, the abortive ones remaining attached to the axis. T. triandrum, Hook> 

 " Fl. Tas." 



Very common in salt marshes. It occurs throughout Australia, and it is 

 common to the temperate Southern Hemisphere. Fl. Oct.-Jan. 



2. T. CBNTEOCAEPA, Hook. A very small tufted plant. Leaves at the base of 

 the stem very slender, filiform, \-\ inch long. Stems slender, solitary or many 

 from the same tuft, generally 1-2 inches high, the inflorescence occupying the 

 othei' half. Flowers few, in a small' raceme, at first close but soon spreading. 

 Perianth-segments minute, spreading, slender ; generally only 3, and often but 

 one, with a perfect stamen ; rarely 6, and each with a stamen. Carpels linear, 

 exceeding the perianth, with plumose stigmas. Fruiting-carpels linear, about 



2 lines long, bearing 2 short spurs at the base. P. nanum, F. v. M. 



Common in many localities, principally on sandstone or moist sandy places on 

 hills, Bellerive, near George's Bay, &o. It occurs also throughout temperate 

 Australia. Fl. Sept.-Nov. ♦ 



3. T. PEOCEEA, R. Br. A robust plant, usually living in water. Leaves flat,, 

 about h inch broad, 1 to many feet long, the upper portion usually floating. 

 Stem erect, single, f-^ inch thick, 1 to many feet high. Flowers very numerous, 

 in a rather dense spike- like raceme, 2 inches to 1 foot long. Perianth-segments 

 usually 6, each bearing a perfect stamen, broad, about 1 line long. Carpels 

 about 1^ line long, with a short recurved stigma. Fruit on a stalk about 2 lines 

 long, oblong, but pointed at both ends, all 6 carpels maturing, laterally flattened, 

 3-ribbed on the back, 3-5 lines long. 



Very common in fresh or brackish water ; also throughout Australia. Fl.- 

 Oct.-Dec. 



2. POTAMOGETON. 



Flowers hermaphrodite. Perianth of 4 scales. Stamens 4, inserted on the- 

 perianth-segments. Carpels 4, free from one another. Ovules solitary in each 

 carpel. 



Distribution as wide as the order. All the species are water plants, with some- 

 or all of the leaves submerged. Our knowledge of Tasmanian forms is still 

 meagre, and^requires careful observation to eliminate error. 



