748 LXlV. RUBlAOE^. [Hedyotis. 



than half-superior, the carpels separating septicidally, and indehiscent or loculi- 

 cidally 2-valved, or the whole capsule loculicidally 2-valved, the valves remaining 

 entire or splitting septicidally. — Herbs, undershrubs, or rarely climbers. Stipules 

 interpetiolar, united with the petioles in a short sheath or almost free, either 

 truncate or ovate, entire or fringed with bristle-like subulate lobes. 



A large genus, widely spread over tropical and subtropical Asia and Africa, with a few 

 American species. Of the 4 Queensland species, one is common in India and the Archipelago, 

 the others appear to be endemic. 

 Capsule hard, indehiscent or separable mto 2 indehiscent cocci. Coarse 



plant. Flowers numerous, in sessile axillary clusters 1, H. auricularia. 



Capsule slightly protruding from the calyx-tube, and opening loculicidally, 

 or both septicidally and loculicidally. Leaves narrow-linear. Pedicels 

 slender, solitary, or 2 or 3 together. 



Very slender, erect Panicle loose, almost leafless. Corolla-lobes 

 shorter than the tube. Capsule loculicidal and septicidal . . 2. H. mitrasacmoides. 



Slender and diffuse. Pedicels axillary. Corolla-lobes shorter than the 

 tube. Capsule loculicidal and septicidal ... .... . 3. H. galioides. 



Capsule at least half-superior, opening in 4 valves. Corolla-lobes shorter 



than the tube. Seeds broad, concave, peltately attached by a 



prominent rib on the inner face. Perennials with linear leaves. 



Pedicels slender. Corolla-tube nearly 2 lines long . .... 4. K. Irachymeniuidcx 



1. H. auricularia (ear-shaped), Linn.; DC. Prod. iv. 420 ; Denth. Fl. 

 Austr. iii. 404. A decumbent straggling herb of 1 to 3ft., the branches hairy or 

 pubescent all round or on the opposite sides only or almost glabrous. Leaves 

 shortly petiolate, ovate-lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, 1 to Sin. long, glabrous or 

 pubescent, with very oblique raised veins diverging from the midrib and very 

 prominent underneath. Stipules short, with long bristle-like lobes or teeth. 

 Flowers but little more than 1 line long, in dense axillary sessile clusters. 

 Calyx-lobes subulate and recurved, about as long as the tube, the corolla scarcely 

 exceeding them. Capsules small, crowned by the calyx-lobes, and quite inde- 

 hiscent or rarely separating into 2 hard indehiscent cocci, each containing 4 to 6 

 angular seeds.— W. and Arn. Prod. 412 ; Benth. Fl. Hongk. 150; H. r/erticnlata, 

 Koxb.; DC. Prod. iv. 420; Metabolos cenosus, Blume ; DC. Prod. iv. 435. 



Hab.: Cape York, M'GiUivray. 



Widely spread over E. India, the Archipelago, and the islands of the S. Pacific. 



2. H. mitrasacmoides (like a Mitrasacme), F. r. M. Fraflm. iv. 37 ; 

 limth. Fl. Austr. iii. 404. A slender erect dichotomous glabrous annual of 1ft. 

 or more. Leaves few, narrow-linear. Stipules small, scarious, with 1 or 2 short 

 bristle-like lobes on each side. Flowers very small, in a loose irregular 

 2-3-chotomous cyme or panicle, the floral leaves reduced to minute bracts. 

 Pedicels solitary or 2 together, long and filiform. Calyx very small, with minute 

 distant teeth. Corolla scarcely exceeding 1 line, the tube somewhat dilated 

 upwards, the lobes rather shorter than the tube. Fruit ovoid or as broad as long, 

 somewhat compressed, deeply furrowed at the dissepiment, 1^ line long.' 

 Capsule as long as the calyx-teeth, opening loculicidally and septicidally in 4 valves. 



Hab.: Gulf country. 



3. H. galioides (like a Galium), F. r. M. Fraym. iv. 88 ; Benth. Fl. Austr. 

 iii. 404. A slender diffuse much-branched glabrous annual. Leaves narrow- 

 linear. Stipules very small, with 1 or 2 small bristle-like lobes on each side. 

 Pedicels filiform, axillary, solitary or 2 or 8 together. Calyx-tube globularj 

 contracted at the orifice, the lobes acute, nearly as long as the tube, separated by 

 narrow acute sinuses. Corolla-tube shorter than the calyx-lobes, the lobes 

 scarcely so long as the tube. Fruit ovoid-globular, 1 line long or rather more 

 contracted at the top, furrowed at the dissepiment. Capsule scarcely protrudino-' 

 the carpels separating septicidally at the top, and opening each in 2 valves.' 

 Seeds small, angular. 



Hab.: Shoai B&y, R: Brewn; Port Curtis, M'GHJidju;/ ; Cape llace and Broadsouud llou 



OlCIIUltl. 



