98 THE FLOBA OS THE NORTHERN TERRITORY. 



Spikes cylindrical, above 2 in. long and 1| in. diameter. Leaves orbicular, 

 very densely woolly. — 20. P. rotundifolius. 



Spikes elongated with distant flowers. Leaves oblong or lanceolate, the 

 stellate hairs short and scattered. — IL P. dissitiflorus. 



Series II. Spikes cylindrical or elongated or rarely globular. I to 3 in. 

 diameter. Flowers more or less yellow or greenish, not red. Inner segments 

 without internal dense wool, but the stamens usually surrounded by a few long 

 hairs. 



Spikes elongated with distant flowers. Leaves fiUforra. — 12. P. distans. 



Spikes dense, at length long and cyUndrical. — 2. P. alopecuroideus. 



Spikes globular or rarely ovoid. Perianth-segments rather broad, the 

 dorsal hairs very short. — 9. P. corymbosus. 



Series III. Spikes globular ovoid or rarely cylindrical, 1 to 2 in. diameter, 

 terminating simple or rarely branched stems. Perianth straight, pink or red, 

 the inner segments woolly inside towards the base. 



Perianth-segments very rigid with short narrow tips. Stems erect. Spikes 

 about 1 J in. diameter. — 13. P. exaltatus. 



Perianth-segments with conspicuous coloured obtuse glabrous tips. 



Spikes about 2 in. diameter. — 18. P. Manglesii. 



Series IV. Stems mostly branched or rarely some of them long decumbent 

 and simple, glabrous or with crisped woolly hairs. Spikes mostly globular, 

 I to 1 in. diameter. 



Inner jjerianth-segments very woolly inside towards the base (less so in P. 

 helipteroides). Bracts rather loose. 



Leaves narrow. Stems more or less silky or woolly. — 16. P. 



helipteroides. 

 Leaves broad. Stems glabrous or nearly so except the young 

 shoots. — 6. P. axillaris. 

 Inner perianth-segments nearly glabrous inside the wool proceeding 

 chiefly from the staminal cup. Bracteoles closely embracing the perianth. — 

 5. P. auriculifolius. 



Inner perianth-segments nearly glabrous inside. Staminal cup surrounded 

 by long straight hairs. 



Perennial with a thick rootstock. Spikes about 1 in. diameter. — 14. P. 

 fusiformis. 



Annual. Spikes about f-in. diameter. — 15. P. gracihs. 



Series V. Spikes globular or cyhndrical, | to 1| in. diameter. Staminal 

 cup wdth transparent scale-like teeth or lobes between the filaments (wanting 

 in all other series). Leaves narrow. — 8. P. calostachyus. 



Series VI. Spikes globular, ovoid or cylindrical, J to J-in. diameter. 

 Stems erect, branching, glabrous or slightly hairy. Annual — 10. P. 

 Cunninghamii. 



Perennials. Branches woolly or villous, at least when young. Spikes 

 numerous, sessile or shortly pedunculate. 



Perianth surrounded by long wool concealing the bracts and 



segments. Spikes cylindrical. — 7. P. brachyanthus. 

 Bracts and bracteoles nearly as long as the perianth and very 

 conspicuous. 

 Branches and foliage villous. Spikes narrow-cylindrical. — 3. 



P. astrolasius. 

 Young shoots woolly. Leaves glabrous, broad. Spikes ovoid. 

 Perianth-segments glabrous inside. — 1. P. servoides. 



