Alisma] CXLVII. ALISMACEJ3. 1708 



4 in each whorl, the bracts under the whorls more herbaceous than in other 

 species, the lowest often above lin. long and shortly connate at the base. Outer 

 perianth-segments ovate, striate, persistent, about 1 line long ; inner ones twice 

 as large, of a pale pink, very fugaceous. Fruit-carpels usually 6 or fewer but 

 sometimes 7 or 8, the largest of the genus, being about 3 lines long when ripe, 

 the pericarp hard and rather thick, with 3 or 4 dorsal ribs more or less muricate, 

 2 or more of the prickles often conical and very prominent. 

 Hab.: Gulf of Carpentaria, Gtdliver; Hookingham Bay, Da!Mc% ; Mount Elliott, Filzalan. 



2. A., oligococcum (fruits few). F. r. M. Fiw/m. i. 23, viii. 214 ; Benth. 

 Fl. Austi: vii. 185. Closely allied to A. acanthoearpum. Leaves the same, wife 

 the same narrow basal sinus glandular dots and almost pedate venation. Flowers 

 also similar, in abroad panicle with the lower bracts leafy, but smaller or more 

 slender than in that species. Carpels usually only 2 or 3 perfect 1\ or rarely 

 2 lines long, very obtuse, the 3 or 4 prominent dorsal ribs smooth or tuberculalie 

 but not mtiricate.— ^. r/landidosum, Thw. Enum. PI. Zeyl. 332. 



Hab.: Moreton 'Bay, IV. Hill, F. v. Mueller; Herbert's Creek and Gaingford, notcman; 

 Rockingham Bay, Dallachy ; also in Ceylon and East India. 



3. A. reniforme (kidney form), Don. Prod. Fl. Nep. 22; Benth. Fl.Amtr. 

 vii. 186. Leaves orbiciflar-cordate or reniform, 1^ to 4in. long and often broader 

 than long, very obtuse, with 13 to 17, usually 15 primary nerves, the transverse 

 veinlets very numerous fine and closely parallel. Panicle very large, with long 

 verticillate branches not numerous in each whorl. Outer perianth-segments 

 nearly orbicular, many-nerved, about 2 lines long. Carpels 6 or fewer, rarely 7 

 or 8, thick and more or less drupaceous, with several usually 7 or 9 dorsal ribs 

 not tuberculate, the style rather slender, adnate to the inner edge to near the 

 summit.— Wight, Ic. t. 322. 



Hab.: Burnett Eiver, F. v. Mueller ; Eockhampton, O'SItaiiesy ■ Rockingham Bay, Dallaeliy. 

 The species is also common in many parts of East India. 



2. DAMASONIUM, Juss. 

 (From supposed medicinal qualities,) 

 (Aetinoearpus, JR. Br.), 

 Flowers hermaphrodite. Perianth of 6 segments, 8 outer ones membranous, 

 3 inner larger and petal-like and very fugacious. Stamens 6. Ovules 2 ip each 

 carpel. Fruit carpels 6 to 9 or rarely more, laterally flattened, adnate by their 

 broad base to the convex oi conical receptacle, tapering into a beak, spreading, 

 when ripe usually breaking off transversely near the base. Seeds 2 or solitary 

 by abortion. Embryo horse-shoe shaped. — Aquatic or marsh herbs, with 

 the habit of the annual Alismas. 



Besides the Australian species which is endemic, the genus comprises a few others from the 

 northern hemisphere, all are closely allied to each other and possibly varieties of one. 



1. D. australe (Australian), Salisb.; Kuntli. Enum. iii. 155 ; Benth. 1<1- 

 Austr. vii. 186. A tufted glabrous annual. Leaves all radical, on long petioles, 

 from ovate-cordate to lanceolate, 1 to 2in. long with 3 or 5 primary nerves cour 

 nected by several rather distant transverse veins and these again by numerous 

 cross parallel veinlets. Stems leafless, 6in. to 1ft. high, flowering from about the 

 middle, with verticillate branches either all 1-flowered and | to lin. long, or 

 some of them elongated bearing an umbel of 5 to 10 flowers. Outer perianth- 

 segments scarcely above -J line long ; inner ones rather larger but exceedingly 

 fugacious. Carpels usually about 9, but varying from 5 to 10, breaking off 

 when ripe by a transverse somewhat curved line, usually dropping the lower seed 



