Pomax.] LXIV. RUBlACEifi. 777 



fruit-valves, but often called an involucre) oampanulate, 1 to ^^ line long, 

 bordered by 5 to 8 ovate spreading teeth (the outer calyx-lobes), the inner calyx- 

 lobes much smaller or scarcely conspicuous on the top of the deciduous oper- 

 culum, — Opeirularia umbellata, Gsertn. Fruot i. 112 t. 24; Poincu- hlvta and P. 

 glabra, DC. Prod. iv. 615 ; P. ruju'stris, F. v. M. in Linnsea, xxv. 895. 



Hab.: Suttor, Burdekin, and Burnett Eivers, F. v. Mueller ; Bockhampton, Dallaclii/ ; Brisbane 

 Eiver, Moreton Bay, F. v. Mueller ; on the Maranoa and near Mount Pluto, Mitchell. A very 

 common plant in the colony. 



34. SPERMACOCE, Linn. 



(From the capsule being crowned by the calycine points.) 



(Borreria, G. F. W. Met/ ; Bigelowia, Spreng.) 



Calyx-limb of 4 or rarely only 2 teeth or small lobes. Corolla-tube short or 



rarely slender ; lobes 4, valvate in the bud. Anthers exserted or rarely included 



in the tube. Ovary 2-celled, vi^ith 1 ovule in each cell, laterally attached or 



ascending ; style entire or with 2 short stigmatic lobes. Capsule small, separating 



into 2 carpels .more or less opening on their inner face, or leaving more or less of 



the dissepiment free or attached to one of the carpels. Seeds marked on the 



inner face by a longitudinal furrow, concavity, or broad opaque surface containing 



the hiluni. — Herbs or rarely undershrubs. Stipules shortly sheathing, bordered 



with bristle-like teeth. Flowers small, clustered in the axils of the leaves or in 



terminal' heads. 



A large genus, widely spread over the tropical and subtropical regions both of the New and 

 the Old World, some species being amongst the commonest of the tropical weeds. The whole of 

 the Australian species, as far as known, are endemic. 



Stamens inserted at the base or below the middle of the corolla-tube, the 

 anthers always included. Corolla 1 to IJ line long. 

 Leaves linear, lanceolate or narrow-elliptical. Stems erect, divaricate or 

 scarcely diffuse. Stamens at the base of the tube. 



Corolla-lobes much shorter than the tube 1. S. brachystema. 



Corolla-lobes longer than the tube. 

 Corolla densely bearded at the throat. Anthers small, ovate . . . 2. S. pogostoma. 

 Corolla-lobes ovate, patent, nearly glabrous, tube bearded inside. 



Anthers very small ; 3. S. uniseta. 



Leaves ovate or broadly lanceolate, rigid, with callous margins. Stamens 



near the middle of the tube 4. .5. margiimta. 



Stamens inserted at the orifice of the corolla-tube, alternating with its lobes. 

 Calyx usually 4-lobed. Corolla-lobes without internal appendages. 

 Annual or perennial herbs. 

 Corolla-lobes longer than the short broad tube. 

 Leaves linear or linear-lanceolate. 

 Corolla about 1 line long. Stamens much shorter than the lobes .5. S. vmUicauiis. 

 Corolla about IJ line long, scaly-hairy outside, glabrous on face, 



the tube very hairy inside. Stamens long as corolla-lobes . . 6. S. Jacobsoni. 

 Corolla about 2 lines long. Stamens as long as or longer than the 



lobes 7. S. cxserta. 



Leaves ovate or elliptical, on long petioles. Stamens exceeding the 



corolla-lobes 8. S. vieinbraiiaeea. 



Corolla-lobes shorter than the tube. 

 Stems diffuse. Leaves petiolate, ovate or broadly lanceolate. Corolla 



nearly 2 lines long 9. .S'. dcbilis. 



Stems erect or ascending. Leaves narrow-linear. Flowers nume- 

 rous, in heads chiefly terminal. 

 Corolla about 3 lines long ; lobes nearly as long as the tiibe . . 10. S. stciiopliylla. 

 Corolla about 4 lines long ; lobes a little more than half as long as 



the slender tube U.S. lavigata. 



Calyx usually 4-lobed. Corolla-lobes with 2 oblique prominent laminse 

 or auricles on the inner face. Leaves linear or lanceolate. Annual or 

 perennial herbs. Corolla 2J to 3 lines long, the lobes about as long as 



the tube 12. S.breviflorn. 



Calyx 2-lobed, Corolla-lobes without appendages. Undershrub . . .13, 8. snffruticosa. 



