Sphmranthus.] LXV. COMPOSt'D^. &^S 



numerous, in globular clusters or compound heads of 4 to 5 lines diameter when 

 in flower, ^in. when in fruit. Bracts linear, scale-like at the base, tapering into 

 subulate hirsute or ciliate points, those surrounding the partial heads rather 

 broader. Female florets 6 to 8 or rather more, not exceeding the involucre ; 

 disk-florets 2 or 3, with simple styles. Achenes of the ray slightly hairy, those 

 of the disk abortive.— Wight, Ic. t. 1094 ; F. v. M. Fragm. iii. 188. 



Hdb.: Gulf of Carpentaria, F. c. Mueller ; Selheim River, Bowman ; Maraiioa and Belyando 

 Rivers, Mitchell. 

 The species is common in tropical Asia, extending into tropical Africa. 



2. S. microcephalus (small-headed), Willd.; DC, Prod. v. 369 ; Benth. 

 Fl. Austr. iii. 522. Plant erect, 1 to 2ft. high, quite glabrous or rarely minutely 

 glandular-pubescent. Leaves elliptical, oblong or lanceolate, acute with small 

 acute teeth, deourrent- along the stem into continuous entire or slightly-toothed 

 wings. Flower-heads in globular clusters or compound heads, rather smaller 

 than in S. hirtus. Involucral bracts oblong-linear or cuneate, often jagged at 

 the end. Florets and achenes of S. hirtus, but those of the disk fertile as well as 

 those of the circumference. — S. glaber, DC. Prod. v. 870; F. v. M. Fragm. 

 iii. 138. 



Hab.: Islands of the Gulf of Carpentaria, R. Broicn. 

 Also in Ceylon and the Indian Archipelago. 



27. PTEROCAULON, Ell. 



(Stems winged.) 



Flower-heads small, sessile, in dense globular clusters or compound heads, 

 interspersed with woolly bracts. Partial involucres ovoid, the bracts linear, 

 usually glabrous and more or less scarious. Florets of the circumference 

 numerous, female, filiform, minutely toothed, not exceeding the disk. Disk- 

 florets solitary or rarely 2 or 3, tubular, hermaphrodite but usually sterile, 4 or 

 5-toothed. Anthers with more or less prominent tails or points at the base. 

 Style-lobes flattened or almost subulate, papillose outside towards the end. 

 Achenes small, terete or slightly compressed, those of the disk usually abortive. 

 Pappus of capillary simple bristles united in a ring at the base, — Herbs or 

 undershrubs, usually glandular-pubescent and strongly scented, often woolly. 

 Leaves alternate, orenate or toothed, decurrent on the stem. Clusters or com- 

 pound flower-heads solitary and terminal, or small and numerous in a terminal 

 spike with one bract, usually persistent on the common receptacle under each 

 partial head, the partial involucres often very deciduous. 



The species are all Australian, but 2 of them extend also into New Caledonia and the Eastern 

 Archipelago. With the compound inflorescence and decurrent leaves of Sphoeranthus, the genus 

 is readily distinguished by the pappus and the tailed anthers. The inflorescence is nearly that 

 of the Angianthece, but there are numerous feinale filiform florets, and the style-branches of the 

 disk are not truncate. — Benth. 



Clusters of flower-heads small but numerous, forming a terminal 



dense or interrupted spike. 

 Involucres rigid, about 4 lines long. Leaves ovate or obovate, 



often above Sin. long, the wool very dense, almost flocoose . . 1. P. verbascifolium. 

 Involucres not 2 lines long. Leaves obovate or oblong, under 2in. 



long, tomentose or shortly woolly '2. P. cyUndrostachyum. 



Clusters of fJower-heads solitary, globular or ovoid-oblong. 

 Plant tomentose or woolly. Decurrent wings entire. Clusters 



globular 3. P. sphacelatum. 



Plant glandular-pubescent, not tomentose. Decurrent wings 



toothed. Clusters ovoid or oblong, large. Disk-florets solitary . 4. P. glandulosum. 



1. P. verbascifolium (Verbascum-leaved), Benth. and Hook. Gen. PI. A 

 tall erect perennial or undershrub, the foliage densely woolly, often floccose, 

 resembling that of Verbascum Thapsm. Leaves ovate or obovate, 2in. long or 



