THE FLORA OF THE NOETHBEN TEKKITOEY. 133 



reaoli 41 in number, and are broadly obovate and retuse or even obcordate, 

 thinly pubescent on lower surface and glabrous above, measuring 2-4 mm. in 

 length by less than 3 mm. in breadth. The sepals are thinly pubescent, and 

 are longer and broader (13 by 3 mm. max.) than those of No. 133, var. cassioides 

 in which, however, the petals are larger and the leaflets reach 45 in number. 



In the form No. 233, which is almost glabrous, the leaflets are mostly 

 5-6 mm. long, with the terminal one 8-9 mm. Numerous intermediate forms 

 connect the small-leaved varieties with the fuUy-developed type. The var. 

 cassioides described by Bentham (from Sturt's Creek and GuK of Carpentaria) is 

 represented in the Melbourne Herbarium by specimens from Sturt's Creek and 

 Nicholson River, both collected by F. v. M. in 1856, but neither has the varietal 

 name added on the labels. On the other hand a specimen of var. microphylla 

 (from Mt. Churchman, W.A., Young) is labelled by the Baron, evidently in 

 error, " var. cassioides," but in it there are between 50 and 60 leaflets, measuring 

 only 2-3 mm. in length, hirsute, and with a recurved blunt point. Another 

 specimen, collected by Giles shows the rigid and almost spinescent character, 

 while two specimens from the upper Ashburton River, W.A. (Cuthbertson, 

 1888), indicate the one, a development approaching the typical, and the other 

 a scrubby form similar to v. microphylla in the size of the leaf. The leaf 

 development may be taken to indicate the nature of the water supply, the small- 

 leaved forms being found in arid surroundings ; although the bed of a river, 

 where moisture is retained in the mud and gravel, produces in the driest season 

 the fuUy-developed form in flower, while beyond the overhanging banks almost 

 all else is desiccated and dormant. 



11. CASSIA, Linn. {Cathartocarpiis, Pers.). 



(a) Flowers in pedunculate racemes or umbels, either axillary or forming a 

 terminal panicle or compound raceme. (The Australian species are shrubs 

 or trees). 



Stamens 7 perfect, of which 2 or 3 lower ones larger or on longer fila- 

 ments ; 3 small and imperfect staminodia. Perfect anthers all 

 oblong-hnear, the lower ones longer. 



Racemes short, almost corymbose, axillary or in a narrow 

 terminal panicle. Pod thick or turgid. Seeds mostly hori- 

 zontal. — 15. C. Sophera. 

 Racemes short, loose, on long peduncles, forming a large terminal 

 panicle. Leaflets 10 to 20 pairs, pubescent. Pod very fiat. 

 — 8. C. laxifiora. 



Racemes elongated, on long axiUary peduncles. Bracts large, 

 deciduous. Pod very flat. 



Pubescent. Leaflets 9 to 15 pairs, oblong or ovate, ob- 

 tuse, mucronate. Stipules ovate-cordate, acuminate, 

 rigid. Bracts broad, obtuse. — 18. C. venusta. 

 Pubescent. Leaflets 9 to 15 pairs, ovate-lanceolate, acute, 

 mucronate. Stipules narrow. Bracts acuminate. — 11. 

 C. notabilis. 

 Stamens 10, all with oblong-linear perfect anthers, all equal or the 

 lower ones rather longer. 



Glands between the leaflets (at least of the lowest pair), oblong, 

 subulate or stipitate, very rarely wanting. 

 Bracts acuminate. — 17. C. sufEruticosa. 

 Bracts small, broad, obtuse. Leaflets oblong-lanceolate or 

 hnear. 



