Samolus.] LXXIII. PRIMULACE^. 947 



2. S. repens (creeping), Pers.'Syn. i. 171; Benth Fl. Austr, iv. 271. A 

 perennial, with a more or leas, tufted stock emitting creeping stolons, but very 

 variable in habit and stature, glabrous or hoary with minute, almost scale-like 

 glands. Stems simple or branched, sometimes prostrate, with most of the 

 pedicels axillary, sometimes erect or ascending, | to 1ft. high, leafy, with the 

 flowers chiefly collected in a short terminal raceme. Radical leaves petiolate, 

 obovate or oblong ; stem-leaves usually small, either linear or lanceolate and 

 acute, or oblong obtuse and petiolate. . Pedicels long ' or short, without bracts 

 except the subtending one, which is often adnate to the pedicel, so as to appear 

 inserted on it. Flowers variable in size, but usually spreading to 4 or 5 lines 

 diameter. Calyx-tube adnate to about the middle of the ovary ; lobes acute, 

 longer than or of the length of the tube. Corolla-tube broad, usually about as 

 long as the calyx-lobes ; lobes ovate, obtuse, as long as the tube. Staminodia 

 filiform. Capsule half-inferior ; placenta stipitate, ovoid, ending in a long 

 horn-like point connected with the apex of the cavity. Seeds numerous, globular 

 or angular. — S. littoralis, E. Br. Prod. 428 ; Duby in DC. Prod. viii. 73 ; , Hook, 

 f. Fl. Tasm. i. 301 ; Nees in PI. Preiss. i. 837 ; Lodd. Bot. Cab. t. 435 ; 

 Sheffiddia incana, Labill. PI. Nov. HoU. i. 40 t. 54. 



Hab.: Oommon in coastal swamps of the southern pa,rts. 



The species extends to New Zealand and New Caledonia. It is exceedingly variable in stature, 

 foliage, (to. 



Oeder LXXIY. MYRSINE^. 



Flowers regular. Calyx of 5 or rarely 4 divisions or teeth, free or rarely the 

 tube adnate to the ovary. Corolla regular, more or less divided into as many 

 lobes or teeth or rarely distinct petals as the divisions of the' calyx, imbricate and 

 often contorted in the bud. Stamens as many as divisions of the corolla and 

 opposite to them, inserted in the tube or at the base. Ovary 1 -celled, with 

 several ovules, usually peltate, attached to or immersed in a central placenta, 

 usually quite free, thick, and globular. Style single, with a terminal, capitate 

 or small stigma. Fruit an indehiscent berry or drupe, or very rarely splitting 

 lengthwise on one side. Seeds albuminous (except in Mgiceras). — Trees or 

 shrubs, the foliage and inflorescence usually marked with resinous dots. Leaves 

 alternate, simple, entire or toothed, without stipules. Flowers small, in axillary 

 clusters, racemes or panicles, or rarely in terminal panicles. 



A considerable Order, widely distributed over the tropical and subtropical regions of the globe. 

 Of the 5 Australian genera, three are common to the New and the Old World, the other two 

 limited to the Old World. The Order only differs from Primulaceie in the .woody stem and 

 succulent indehiscent fruit. From the Sapotacece, it is readily distinguished by the 1-celled 

 ovary. — Benth. 



Tbibe I. ItKeBSes. — Calyx nearly enclosing the many-seeded berry. 



Calyx 2-bracteolate. Flowers racemose . .1. M.bsa. 



Tribe II. Eumyraiueee.—Calyx- free. Staminodes none. Fruit 1-seeded. 



Flowers in axillary fascicles. Corolla imbricate 2. Mybsine. 



Flowers racemose or paniculate. Corolla imbricate or contorted . . ... 3. Embelia. 

 Corolla-segments twisted to the right. Calyx glabrous. Anther-cells not divided 



transversely , 4. Abdisi.i. 



Ovary and fruit aouminxte, becoming long and curved. Antber-oells transversely 



divided into several pits . . , . . . , 5, .Eqicekras. 



Part III. p 



