1600 GXXIX. HiEMODOEACE^. [Hamodonm.. 



1. H. planifolium (leaves flat), R. Br. Prod 800 ; Betith. Fl. Austi: vi. 422.. 

 Stems from a thick base 2 to 3ft. high, scarcely branched below the inflorescence. 

 Lower or radical leaves long, grass-like, flat, from under 2 lines to nearly 3 linesr 

 broad, the upper ones few and short. Flowers numerous, of a livid purple or 

 greenish at the base, in short forked racemes or cymes collected in a compact more- 

 or less corymbose panicle, but usually looser than in H. coccineum. Bracts narrow, 

 subulate-acuminate, usually longer than the padicel. Perianth-segments linear 

 or linear-lanceolate, obtuse in the bud but appearing acuminate when open the 

 margins being involute, about 5 lines long, the outer ones scarcely shorter than- 

 the inner. Stamens much shorter than the perianth ; anthers linear, about as 

 long as the filaments. Ovary wholly inferior, the summit showing only 3 slight 

 protuberances. Capsule more than half superior, tridymous, 4 to 5 lines broad.. 

 — Bot. Mag. t. 1610. 



Hab.: Between Stanthorpe and the border of N.S.W., and ihe gullies about Helidon. 



2. H. coccineum (scarlet), R. Br. Prod. 800 ; Benth. Fl. Aiistr. vi. 422. 

 "On-tho," Mitchell Eiver, Palmer. " Tan-di," Cooktown, Roth. " Anto,"' 

 Palmer River, Iioi/t. " Leana," Batavia Eiver, ii'ot/i. Stems from a thick base 

 2 to 3ft. high, not branched below the inflorescence. Leaves at the base of the- 

 stem 1 to 2ft. long, flat, 2 to 8 lines broad, very finely striate the upper ones few 

 and short. Flowers numerous red in dense cymes forming a compact terminal 

 Compound corymbose panicle. Perianth-segments linear, the outer ones thickened' 

 and dilated at the base, 3 lines long, the inner ones rather narrower and -J- longer. 

 Stamens a little shorter or longer than the perianth, the anthers much shorter 

 than the filaments. Ovary wholly inferior. Capsule half superior, about 4 or 5- 

 lines broad, conspicuously 3-dymous or didymous by abortion of 1 cell. 



Hab.: Islands of the Gulf of Carpentaria, M. Brown, Henne, Gulliver; Cape York, 

 M' Gillivray , Daemel, Veitch; Albany Islands, F. v. Mvellei' ; Fitzroy Island and Mount 

 Elliott, Fitzalan ; Eockingham Bay, very abundant, Dallachy •, Cape Biver and Glenelle Creek,. 

 Ilowman. 



Used for mailing casket dilly-bags. — Both. 



A fine strong fibre is found in the tough drooping leaves. — Palmer. 



3. H. ensifolium (leaves sword-shaped), F. r. M. Fragm. i. 64 ; Benth. Fl.. 

 Austr. vi. 423. A rigid glaucous species, 2ft. high or more. Leaves rigid, with 

 long open sheaths, the lamina flat, obtuse, 2 to 3 lines broad and about 1ft. long: 

 in the radical leaves, those of the stem short. Panicle broad loose and divaricate,, 

 the ultimate branches loosely racemose, with very small bracts. Pedicels usually 

 about as long as the flowers. Perianth-segments oblong-lanceolate, obtuse,, 

 searcely 2 lines long, the outer ones quite as long as the inner. Stamens about 

 as long as the perianth; Capsule nearly -Jin. broad. 



Hab.: Near the Gulf of Carpentaria. 



4. H. tenuifolium (leaves slender), A. Cunn. Herb.; Benth. Fl. Austr. vi. 

 423. Stems IJ to 2ft. high. Radical and lower leaves with a rather broad short 

 sheathing base, very long, slender and almost terete, about f line broad. Panicle- 

 loosely divaricate, the ultimate 1-flowered branches much longer than the flower, 

 with small distant bracts, and not at all assuming the racemose character. 

 Perianth-segments broadly-ovate, very obtuse, all nearly the same length, the. 

 outer almost' membranous with a broad base, the inner ones of a thicker con- 

 sistence, nearly orbicular, contracted at the baseand of a deeper colour when dry. 

 Filaments attaining nearly the length of the perianth ; anthers ovate, usually 

 slightly exserted, 



Hab.: Peat and boggy ground, shores of Woreton Bay and islandi A. Cunningham, F. v. 

 Mueller ; very common in the southern coastal swamps. - 



