826 LXV. COMPOSITE. [Gnaphalium. 



of the clusters in the forks or on the branches of an irregular corymbose panicle. 

 Involucres about 2 lines diameter, nearly globose, the bracts scarious, pale- 

 brown or straw-colour, with obtuse scarious tips not spreading. Female florets 

 exceedingly numerous with a few hermaphrodites in the centre. — Hook. f. Fl. 

 Tasm. i. 216 ; Steetz in PI. Preiss. i. 478. 



Hab.: Cape Upstart, Barnard Isles, Port Curtis, U'GiUivray ; Suttor Eiver, Bowman; Keppel 

 Bay, Thozet. A very common -weed. ' 



The species is common in almost all the warm and temperate regions of the globe. 



Used medicinally as a drink for general sickness.^PaJmcr. 



2. G. japonicum (of Japan), Thunb. Fl. Jap. 311 ; Benth. Fl. Austr. iii. 653 

 An erect annual, usually under 1ft., but when luxuriant IJft. high, more or less 

 cottony-white, the base of the stem often hard and almost woody. Leaves from 

 oblong-spathulate and narrowed into a long petiole to linear and sessile, 

 becoming glabrous above, cottony-white underneath. Flower-heads small, in 

 dense globose clusters or compound heads, surrounded by a few floral leaves, 

 either terminal and f to fin. diameter or axillary and smaller. Involucres 

 oMong, imbedded at the base in a dense white wool ; the bracts scarious, brown 

 or straw-colour, erect, obtuse or the inner ones acute, without spreading tips. 

 Female florets 20 or more, hermaphrodite ones in the centre, solitary or very few. 

 Achenes slightly compressed. Pappus- bristles very fine, scarcely cohering at 

 the base.— Mlq. Prolus. Fl. Jap. 109 ; F. v. M. Fragm. v. 150 ; Q. involucratum, 

 Forst. Prod. 55 ; DC. Prod. vi. 235 ; Hook. f. Fl. Tasm. i. 216 ; Steetz in PI. 

 Preiss. i. 478 ; Bot. Mag. t. 2582 ; Evchiton ForsUri a,nA E . puhhellus, Cass. (DO.) 



Hab.: Northumberland Islands, R. Brown; Keppel Bay, Thozet; Brisbane Biyer, Moreton 

 Bay, F. v. Mueller. A very common garden weed. 



The species is also in New Zealand, and extends over some parts of the.Eastern Archipelago, 

 and northwards to Japan, from whence we have many specimens, easily recognised by Thun- 

 berg's description, but first identified by Miquel. With regard to the several synonyms quoted 

 by De CandoUe and copied by F. v. Mueller, some must remain doubtful, for De CandoUe gives 

 tbe perennial sign to his species, whilst all the perfect specimens I have seen show an annual 

 root, as described by Thunberg. — Benth. 



3. G. COllinum (on hills), Labill. PI. Nov. Holl. ii. 44 t. 189 ; Benth. Fl. 

 Austr. iii. 654. Very nearly allied to •(?, japonicum, and referred to it as a 

 synonym by F. v. Mueller. It appears, however, to be always perennial, forming 

 a tufted stock or emitting underground creeping rhizomes, the stature is usually 

 smaller, the indumentum closer. Leaves more acute, the radical ones more per- 

 sistent, usually glabrous above, white underneath. Flower-heads not forming so 

 compact a head, and each involucre broader, usually brown. Florets and achenes 

 the same as in G. japonicum. — DC. Prod. vi. 235 ; Hook. f. Fl. Tasm. i. 216 ; 

 Erichiton collinum, Cass. (DC.) 



Hab.: Common in southern parts on hillside spots where the ground is hard and bare of 

 other herbage. 



4. Gi purpureum (purplish), Linn.; DC. Prod. vi. 232 ; Benth. Fl. Austr. 

 iii. 655. An annual or perennial of short duration. Stems simple or branching 

 from the base, ascending or erect, 6in. to 1ft. high. Leaves mostly petiolate and 

 spathulate, or the upper ones rarely linear, cottony-white on both sides as well 

 as the stem. Flower-heads in short dense clusters in the axils of the upper 

 leaves, the lower clusters distant, the upper ones forming a terminal leafy spike. 

 Involucre about 2 lines long, the bracts oblong -linear, scarious but woolly, of a 

 dirty white or pale brown. Female florets very numerous, with 2 or 8 hermaph- 

 rodite ones in the centre. Pappus-bristles slightly scabrous, cohering in a ring 

 at the base. 



Hab.: Brisbane River, Moreton Bay, Leichliardt, F. v. Slueller, Henne. A oonimon weed. 

 This appears to be a N. American species, now spread over many parts of the Old World, and 

 probably introduced into Australia since its settlement. 



