112 XXII. MALVACE^. [SMa. 



This plant assumes forms apparently so distinct that it is difficult to believe that some of 

 them ought not to be considered as species. In attempting, however, to fix their limits, so 

 many intermediate specimens have presented themselves that I feel compelled to follow F. v. 

 Mueller in uniting them under one name. The following appear to be the most marked. — 

 Benth. in Fl. Auntr. 



u. orbicularis. Stems short, diffuse, and tomentose. Leaves orbicular or broadly ovate, 

 deeply and coarsely crenate, cordate at the base. Flowers and fruits rather large. S. cor-rugata, 

 Lindl. I.e. ; S. interstans and S. apodochroma, F. v. M. in Linnsea, xxv. 383. Chiefly in Victoria 

 and N. S. Wales. 



6. ovata. Stems usually more slender and elongated. Leaves mostly cordate-ovate, with 

 small and regular crenatures, often softly tomentose. Petioles often short, and sometimes very 

 short. . Flowers and fruits rather small. S. fibulifera, Lindl. in Mitch. Three Exped. ii. 45 ; 

 SJiliformis, A. Cunn. in Mitch. Trop. Austr. 361. — N. Australia (including a var. with very short 

 pedicels), Queensland, N. S. Wales, Victoria, and S. Australia. S. pedunculata, A. Cunn. ms., 

 from Peel's Range, is a remarkable form, densely tomentose, with the lower leaves 2in. long, 

 and the lower peduncles elongated, bearing a leafless raceme of several flowers, with rigid 

 stipulary bracts ; the inflorescence in the upper part quite normal. S. nematopoda, F. v. M. 

 in Linnsea, xxv. 882, has smaller and less wrinkled fruits, ilthough still much more so than in 

 S. intricata, and the foliage is quite that of the present variety. 



c. angiistifolia. Stems slender, often nearly glabrous as well as the leaves. Leaves cordate- 

 lanceolate, deeply, toothed. Flowers and fruits small. Extends over the whole range of the 

 species, and the only form hitherto found in W. Australia.— S. Imviillima, F. v. M. in Trans. 

 Phil. Soc. Vict. i. 12, is a small hoary form, with larger leaves, a,pproaching sometimes the 

 first variety. Some specimens of A. Cunningham's from Dirk Hartog's Island have, the leaves 

 more densely white-tomentose. 



d. trichopoda. Like the last, but the lanceolate or oblong-linear leaves are never cordate at 

 the base, and the slender pedicels mostly exceed the leaves.— S. tHcltopoda, F. v. M. in Linnsea, 

 xxv. 384. On nearly the whole range of the species, excepting W. Austi'alia. 



e. goniocarpa, F. v. M. Foliage of the last var., but the fruit larger, the angles of each 

 carpel bordered by vertical wings, forming on the fruit as many very prominent angles as there 

 are carpels. Nangavera in N. S. Wales, Victorian Exvedition. 



2. S. Spenceriana (after Mrs. F. Spencer), F. r. If. in Wing's South. Sci. 

 Rec, vol. I. (New Series), April, 1885. Plant dwarf, covered with orbicular, 

 silver- shining, densely-ciliate scales. Stipules linear-setaceous. Leaves from 

 roundish to nearly ovate, irregularly denticulate, \ to l^in. long, flat, on petioles 

 of moderate length. Peduncles filiform, 1 -flowered, about 4in. long, jointed near 

 the summit. Pruit-bearing calyx, r^ot fin. diameter, lobes nearly deltoid. 

 Carpels numerous, broader than high, much-compressed, obliqae-ovate, short- 

 pointed at the summit, prickly at the back, narrowly reticulate at the sides, 

 tardily separating, Seeds slightly downy. — Baron v. Mueller in Wing's So. Sc. 

 Eec, April, 1885. 



Hab.: Thargomindah, Paroo Eiver, and Yappunyah. 



3. S. argentea (silvery), Bail. Ql. Joum. Agri. vol. I. part 1, July 1897. 

 The stems, petioles, as well as most other parts of the plant closely clothed with 

 silvery peltate, ciliate scales. Stems or the lower branches from a procumbent 

 stem erect, slender, about 12in. high. Leaves rather distant, erecto-patent, 

 narrow-linear, 1 to 2 Jin. long, 1 to 2 lines broad, slightly tapering towards the 

 point, rounded at the base to a petiole of a few lines. Stipules subulate, nearly 

 as long as the petioles. Peduncle axillary, solitary, filiform, about 8 or 9 lines, 

 articulate above the middle. Calyx under 4 lines diameter, lobes deltoid, silky- 

 hairy on the inside. Petals twice as long as the calyx, broadly-cuneate, almost 

 roundly-lobed at the end, veined. Stamens under 10. Style-branches recurved. 

 Carpels hairy, probably few, but only imperfect specimens to hand. 



Hab.: Eulo, Paroo River, J. F. Bailey, Dec. 1896. The thick coating of the silvery scales 

 gives to the thin stems the appearance of silver rods. 



4. S. intricata (intricate), F. r. M. in Trans. Phil. Soc. Vict. i. 19, and in 

 Huok. Ken- Juurn. viii. 9 ; Benth. Fl. Austr. i. 193. This form also is now 

 reduced by F. v. Mueller (PI. Vict, i, 163) to the S. corrugata. I am inclined 



