1383 CXV. SANTALACE^, [Choretrum. 



3. C. Candollei (after A. P. De Candolle), F. v. M. Herb.; Bent!,. Fl. 

 Austr. vi. 219. An erect glabrous shrub, attaining several feet, with numerous 

 very slender wiry broom-like branches, acutely angled by short prominently 

 raised lines decurrent from the subulate minute scale-like leaves, which are very 

 deciduous, the branches appearing leafless at the time of flowering. Inflorescence 

 bracts and perianths of C. later iji or um, except that the rim or margin of the 

 adnate p3riinth-tuba is scarcely prominent outside the lobes. — C. laterifiorum, 

 A. DO. Prod. xiv. 675, not of E. Br. ; Leptomcria Billardieri, Sieb. PI. Exs., not 

 of R. Br. 



Hab.: Wide Bay, ZStdiciU ; Darling Downs, -Law; ; Moreton Bay, F. v. Mueller ; and southern 

 inland localities. 



5. LEPTOMERIA, R. Br. 



(Referring to the slender stems and branches.) 



Perianth -tube adnate, usually narrow, the border not at all or scarcely 

 prominent outside ; segments of the limb 5 or rarely 4, inflated or somewhat 

 thickened at the end. Stamens inserted near the base of the segments ; 

 filaments short; anthers terminal, with confluent cells opening out into 4 valves 

 or lobes or into an almost entire disk, the centre often very prominent and angled 

 or lobed. Ovary inferior, with a more or less distinct epigynous disk. Style 

 very short, with an entire or slightly lobed stigma. Fruit a small globular pr 

 ovoid fleshy or dry indehiscent drupe, crowned by the persistent perianth-lobes. 

 Shrubs with numerous slender or rigid apparently leafless branches, the leaves all 

 reduced tp minute alternate scales usually deciduous, or rarely longer linear 

 terete and persistent. Flowers minute, in little terminal or lateral spikes 

 racemes or clusters, each one sessile or shortly pedicellate in the axil of a single 

 minute scale-like deciduous or persistent bract, or rarely the bracts developed 

 into leaves and the raceme into a leafy branch. 

 The genus ij limited to Australia. 



Sect. I. Xeromeria. — Bracts subtending the floioers falling off long he/ore the flower 

 ■expands, 



Eaeemes loose, often J to jiii. long. I'erianth-lobes fulvous when dry. 



Disk not lobed 1. i. acida. 



Baccmes loose, J to fin, long. Perianth-lob^s white when dry. Disk 



lobed 2. L. BiUardieri. 



1. I>. acida (acid), B. Br. Prod. 353 ; Benth. Fl. Austr. vi. 222. An erect 

 troom-like shrub, attaining G to 8 feet, the virgate branches much more angular 

 than in L. Billardieri, leailess at the time of flowering, the minute linear-lanceol- 

 ate scale-like leaves falling off very early from the young shoots. Spikes more 

 slender than in L. Billardeiri, often ^ to fin. long and the flowers much smaller. 

 Perianth-tube narrow-turbinate, tapering at the base but sessile, the limb of the 

 same fulvous colour as the tube, barely f line diameter when open, the lobes 

 much hooded, with reflexed tips. Epigynous disk somewhat angular but not 

 lobed, stigma minutely lobed. — A. DC. Prod. xiv. 677 ; Endl. Iconogr, t. 74. 



Hab.: Moreton, and other coastal localities. 



2. L. Billardieri (after Labillardiere), R. Br. Prod. S5i; Benth. Fl . Austr. 

 vi. 222. An erect broom-like shrub, attaining sometimes G or 7ft. though some- 

 times under 2ft., the branches rather slender and angular, but not so much so as 

 in [.. acida, leafless at the time of flowering, the minute linear-lanceolate scale- 

 like leaves falling off early from the young shoots. Spikes or racemes lateral, 

 loose, J to iin. long. Bracts ovate-lanceolate, acute, concave, falling off long 

 before the flowering. Perianth-tube tapering into a distinct pedicel, the limb 

 whitish when dry, spreading to about 1 line diameter. Epigynous disk distinctly 



