264 iiXXVII. STACKHOtSIE^. [Stackhowia . 



gave the name of H. Gnmnii, whilst Hooker's variety of that name is nearer to H. obtusa. A 

 rather more distinct variety, with elongated slender stems, narrow and more distant leaves, 

 sometimes very lew and small, and rather smaller flowers, with smaller and smoother oooci, is 

 amongst the more common Victorian and S. Australian forms, and is more especially the S. 

 Unarimfolia, A. Cunn., or S. Muelleri, Schuch. It has sometimes the almost terete leaves of 

 S. Huegelii, from which it then differs in its very short bracts. The calyx in this variety is often 

 strongly ribbed after flowering, but still more so in a slender northern variety, which has larger 

 almost murioate cocci. A few Queensland specimens (Port Denison, Fitzalan), very slender, 

 with small flowers in short dense spikes, seem almost to connect this with S. viwricata. Indeed, 

 different as are the extreme forms, the numerous specimens I have had before me show scarcely 

 any definite limits between S. monogyna, pubesceiis, Huegelii, flava, muricata, and viminea. — 

 Benth. 



3. S. muricata (rough), Lindl. in Bot. Reg. under n. 1917 ; Benth. Fl, Amtr. 

 i. 408. Glabrous. Stems slender, simple or branched, often above Ifft. long. 

 Leaves narrow-linear, sometimes almost filiform, \ to l^in. long. Spikes long, 

 very slender, with distant clusters of 2, 3, or more small flowers, usually under 

 3 lines and sometimes not 2 lines long. Calyx-lobes small, obtuse. Corolla- 

 lobes narrow but obtuse, sometimes as long as the tube, sometimes not half so 

 long. Cocci strongly reticulate, sometimes almost muricate. — Schuch. in 

 Linnsea, xxvi. 25. 



Hab.: Port Curtis and Dunk Island, M'GiUivray ; Brigalow scrub in the interior, Mitchell; 

 Peak Downs, F. v. Mueller. 



This species, which we have also from the Philippine Islands, varies considerably and some- 

 times approaches S. viminea, but the leaves are never so broad, and the corolla-lobes obtuse. 

 The Sturt's Creek specimens belong to a more branched and compact form, with very small 

 flowers more frequently solitary, and the leaves few, small, and distant. Some smaller 

 specimens, like those from the Philippine Islands, are less branched and perhaps sometimes 

 annual. — Benth. 



4. S> intermedia (intermediate). Bail. Ql. Agri. Journ. iii. 281. An erect 

 annual. Stem striate or sulcate, only a few inches high ; branches few, terminating 

 in rather long slender spikes of minute flowers. Leaves very narrow, f to IJ-in. 

 long, margins revolute ; apex shortly subulate, pointed. Flowers solitary or in 

 twos or threes. Calyx-lobes about f line with acute points. Corolla-tube 

 scarcely longer than the calyx-bbes ; lobes spreading, narrow, long as the tube. 

 Cocci tuberculous. 



Hab.: On Damp Eocks, Lizard Island. 



The position of this species is between S. muricata, Lindl., and S. viminea, Sm. It was found 

 in company with Z)rose)-a imdtca, Linn.; Buchnera linearis, B.Br.; and that curious rock- loving 

 grass, Diplachne loliiformis, F. v. M. 



5. S. viminea (shoots flexible), Sm. in Rees' Cycl. xxxiii.; Benth. M. Amtr. 

 i. 408. Glabrous. Stems erect or ascending, slender, often 1 to l|ft. high. 

 Leaves on the barren shoots often rather broad, oblong, obtuse, f to lin. long, 

 narrowed at the base, on the flowering-stems fewer, often sihall and narrow- 

 linear, and sometimes scarcely any. Spike slender, elongated, with distant 

 clusters of small flowers, sometimes numerous in the clusters, sometimes solitary 

 or nearly so. Calyx small, with acute lobes. Corolla rarely exceeding 3 lines 

 and often not above 2 lines long, slender, with narrow acuminate or acute lobp. 

 Cocci small, strongly reticulate or muricate. — Schuch. in Linnaa, xxvi. 22; 

 S. ntula, Lindl. in Bot. Eeg. under n. 1917 ; Schuch. I.e. 22 ; S. monogyna, Sieb. 

 PI. Exs.; S. dorypetala, Schuch. I.e. 24. 



Hab.: Warwick, Stanthorpe, Islands of Moreton Bay. 



Var. elata. Branches numerous and more erect, attaining 5ft. according to Maxwell, but 

 several of Drummond's are under Ift.; leaves all narrow ; the whole plant drying more yellow 

 than usual in the eastern variety, although some specimens of the latter are also yellow.^S. 

 elata, F. V. M. Fragm. iii. 86. To this variety belong Maxwell's specimens above mentioned and 

 Drummond's n. 92. A few Port Jackson ones can scarcely be distinguished from them.— Benth. 

 Islands of Moreton Bay. 



Bentham, in Flora Austr. i. 409, aptly remarks that the distinctions between this species and 

 S. muricata, and the value of the character derived from the acute or obtuse corolla-lobes, 

 require further investigation on the living plant. 



