Riilinf/w.] XXni, STERCULIACE^. 147 



but shorter than the leaves. Calyx spreading, about 3 lines diameter. Ligula of 

 the petals linear, usually pubescent. Stamens very shortly united. Fruit not 

 seen — Thoiiiasia (.') salvitoUa, A. Ounn. Herb.; Steetz, in PL Preiss. ii. 388. 

 Hab.: Brisbane River, ^. (Juimiiighum; Uinto's Gmig, Fraser. 



2. R. pannosa (alluding to the clothing), R. Br. in Bot. Mag. t. 2191 ; 

 Bmth. Fl. Austr. i. 228. A shrub of several feet, but flowering young so as to 

 appear an undershrub, softly hirsute with velvety stellate hairs. Leaves on the 

 full-grown plant shortly petiolate, ovate-lanceolate or lanceolate, mostly 2 to Sin. 

 or sometimes longer, toothed, rounded or cordate at the base, scabrous-pubescent 

 above, with impressed veins, densely velvety or hirsute underneath ; on the 

 younger plants they are broader and often 3 or 5-lobed. Cymes shortly pedun- 

 culate. Calyx tomentose, spreading to 3 or 4 lines diameter. Ligula of the 

 petals linear, rather short. Staminodia pubescent, united with the perfect 

 stamens higher up than in most species. Ovary glabrous, granulate. Capsule 

 nearly glabrous, globular, hard and almost indehiseent, beset with rigid subulate 

 bristles, glabrous except a stellate tuft at the tip. — Steetz, in PI. Preiss. ii. 351 ; 

 F. V. M. PI. Vict. i. 160 ; Cmnmersonia dasyphylla, Andr. Bot. Eep. t. 603 ; 

 Buettnena dasyphyUa, J. Gay, in DC. Prod. i. 486, and in Mem. Mus. Par. x. 

 200, t. 12 ; B. pannom, DC. Prod. i. 486. 



Hab.: Southern parts of Queensland. 



3. Bi. rugosa (rugose), Steetz ; Benth. Fl. Austr. i. 238. A shrub so closely 

 resembling R. pannosa in indumentum and foliage that it is difficult to distinguish 

 it without the fruit. Leaves usually narrower, more rugose, and almost bullate. 

 Flowers in cymes, scarcely exceeding 2 lines in diameter when expanded. Ligula 

 of the petals marked with 3 dark lines. Ovary tomentose. Capsule about 4 lines 

 diameter without the setae, not so hard as in R. pannosa, and readily dehiscent, 

 beset with soft pubescent setse, which is long in some specimens, short in others. 



Hab.: Capalaba, J. Shirley. 



12. COMMERSONIA, Forst. 



(After M. Commerson.) 



Calyx 5-lobed. Petals 5, broad and concave at the base, with a small broad or 

 linear ligula at the top. Stamens united in a short cup at the base, 5 perfect 

 with short filaments opposite the petals, alternating with staminodia in threes, 

 the central one of each three lanceolate or spathulate, the latter ones linear or 

 spathulate, attached at the base either to the central one or to the adjoining 

 anther-bearing filament. Ovary sessile, 5-celled, with 2 to 6 ovules in each cell ; 

 styles distinct or united at least at the top. Capsule beset with soft pubescent 

 setse, opening loeuUcidally in 5 valves. Seeds usually 2 or 3, ascending, with a 

 small strophiola ; albumens fleshy ; cotyledons flat. — Trees or shrubs, with 

 stellate tomentum or hairs. Leaves toothed or lobed, often oblique. Flowers 

 small, in terminal, leaf -opposed, or axillary cymes. 



The species are all Australian, one is also widely dispersed over Eastern India, the Archi- 

 pelago and Pacific Islands, the others are endemic. — Benth. 

 Tall shrubs or trees. Leaves mostly above Sin, long, acuminate. Ligula 

 of the petals linear or oblong. 

 Staminodia all linear-spathulate, elongated, the lateral ones attached to 



the central 1- C?. Fraseri. 



Central staminodia lanceolate, lateral ones filiform. 

 Lateral staminodia attached to the central one. Ligula of the petals 



oblong, rather short 2. C Leichhardtii. 



Lateral staminodia attached to the anther-bearing filaments. Ligula 

 of the petals long and linear , , 3, C ecHnata, 



