1718 CXLIX. EEIOCAULEiE. \_Eriocaulon. 



heads. Scapes 1 to 2in. high, scarcely exceeding the leaves. Flower-heads and 

 flowers of the size and structure of those of E. depressum, the outer obtuse rather 

 rigid bracts rather more numerous, but all floriferous as in that species, and the 

 inner female flowers similarly without outer perianth. 



Hab.: Endeavour Eiver, Banhs and Solander. This is the species to which Banks and 

 Solander originally gave the MS. name of B. depression, which Brown transferred to the 

 preceding species. — Benth. 



Order CL. CENTROLEPIDEiE. 



Flowers hermaphrodite or polygamous, sessile and solitary or several together 

 within more or less herbaceous bracts, with or without 1, 2 or rarely 3 hyaline 

 scales to each flower. Perianth none. Stamen 1, filament filiform, anther 

 oblong or linear, 1-celled, versatile, opening in a longitudinal slit. Ovary 1, 

 with 1, 2 or 3 collateral cells or 2 or more cells or carpels, superposed in 2 rows, 

 with 1 pendulous ovule in each cell or carpel ; styles as many as cells or carpels, 

 free or more or less united, terminating in linear stigmas. Fruits of the shape 

 of the ovary, the pericarp membranous, the cells or carpels opening externally in 

 longitudinal slits. Seeds 1 in each cell or carpel or fewer by abortion, pendulous 

 and often laterally adnate to the pericarp ; testa thin ; albumen somewhat mealy. 

 Embryo small, obovoid or conical, at the end of the albumen furthest from the 

 hilum.— Small tufted plants, mostly annuals, with linear or filiform radical 

 leaves and slender or very short scapes. Flowers very small, in solitary terminal 

 heads or spikes, rarely reduced to a single flowers. 

 Only the type genus represented in Queensland. 



1. CENTROLEPIS, Labill. 

 (Spurred scales.) 

 (Desvauxia and Alepy rum , R. Br.) 

 Flowers hermaphrodite, several together or rarely solitary, sessile within 2 

 sheathing bracts, each one within 1, 2 or 3 hyaline scarious scales rarely entirely 

 deficient. Stamen 1, filament filiform ; anther oblong-linear, dorsally attached. 

 Ovary of 3 or more carpels (rarely reduced to 2 or 1) laterally adnate and 

 superposed in 2 rows to one side of a linear receptacle, each with 1 pendulous 

 ovule ; styles 1 to each carpel, all distinct or more or less united at the base, all 

 undivided and ending in a linear-filiform stigma. Fruiting carpels slightly 

 enlarged from the ovary and of the same shape ; pericarp membranous, opening 

 outwards in a longitudinal slit. Seed of the shape of the carpel and often 

 laterally adnate to the pericarp ; testa appressed ; embryo small, obovoid or 

 almost lenticular, in a mealy albumen, distant from the hilum. — Small tufted 

 plants mostly annuals. Leaves linear-filiform, all radical. Scapes simple, 

 terminating in the 2 bracts either close together or one a little distant from the 

 gther, both flowering or the lower one empty. 



The genus is almost limited to Australia. 



Spikes narrow, containing 1 to 4 flowers, the outer bracts erect and glabrous, 

 inner scales few and narrow or none. Flowers 1 or very rarely 2 in the 

 spike. Leaves 3 or 4 lines long. Scape usually lin. long or more. 



Outer bract aristate , 1. C. poli/gyna. 



Spikes ovate or broad, containing more than 4 flowers, the outer bracts 



glabrous or rarely with a, few hairs erect or spreading, and 1, 2 or 3 



scales under each flower, usually very prominent. 

 Leaves and scapes J to fin. Flowers 4 to 6 in the spike. Carpels usually ' 



more than 6 2. C. pudlla. , 



Scapes usually 1 to 2in. Flowers 4 or more in each outer bract. ' 



Outer bracts with long leafy points. Carpels usually 3 to 6 3. C. aristata. 



Outer bracts scarcely pointed. Flowers numerous. Carpels 10 to 20 . 4. C. Banksii. 



