Arthropodium.] CXXXV. LILIACEiB. 1681 



Bracts very small. Perianth-segments narrow, about 5 lines long. Filaments 

 short, papillose-hairy in the upper half ; anthers linear, at least twice as long as 

 the filament. 

 Hab.: Brisbane Eiver. 



12. DICHOPOGON, Kunth. 

 (Eeferring to the appendages of the anthers.) 



Perianth persistent but not twisted, of 6 spreading segments, nearly equal in 

 length, but the inner ones much broader and sometimes slightly crisped or 

 fringed on the edges. Stamens 6, attached to the base of the perianth or almost 

 hypogynous, shorter than the segments ; filaments short, flattened at the base, 

 not bearded ; anthers longer, erect, linear, with 2 small crest-like appendages at 

 the base reflexed on the filament (and sometimes shortly adnate to it ?) ; the cells 

 opening inwards in longitudinal slits. Ovary sessile, 3-celled, with several ovules 

 in each cell superposed in 2 rows ; style filiform, with a terminal stigma. Capsule 

 globular, 8-valved. Seeds several, angular, black, the testa smooth or granular, 

 not shining. — Tufted perennials, with the fibrous roots often thickened into 

 tubers. Leaves radical, grass-like, with scarious sheathing bases. Stems simple 

 ■or with a few long branches, leafless or with a short leaf under the lowest 

 branch. Flowers purple lilac or rarely blue, in a long simple raceme at the end 

 'Of each branch, solitary or 2 or 3 together within distant scarious bracts, the 

 pedicels articulate at or above the middle. 



The genus is limited to Australia. It was formerly included in Arthroiiodium, and may 

 perhaps still be considered as a section only, distinguished by Kunth as having the appendages 

 to the stamens attached to the anthers and not to the filament. —Benth. 



Capsule erect. ■ Anther-appendages very short . . ". 1. D. xtrktus. 



■Capsule reflexed. Anther-appendages rather long 2. D. Sieberiuims. 



1. !D. Strictus (straight), Baker in Joum. Linn. Soc. xv. 319, e.rcl. si/n. ; 

 Benth. Fl. Austr. vii. 58. Eadical leaves narrow linear, varying in length from 

 3 or 4in. to twice as much, always shorter than the stems, the older tufts often 

 surrounded by numerous long filaments, the remains of old leaf-sheaths. Stems 

 from under 1ft. to above 21t. high, the scarious bracts under the branches and 

 pedicels sometimes very narrow and small, sometimes broadly scarious, 8 lines 

 long, besides a more or less lengthened terminal point. Flowers solitary or in 

 ■clusters of 2 or 3 within each bract, and when more than one accompanied by 

 small bracteoles within the bract, the clusters distant along the rhachis. Pedicels 

 ■erect, spreading or recurved, shorter or longer than the flowers. Perianth- 

 segments usually 5 to 6 lines long, 3-nerved in the centre. Appendages to the 

 'base of the anthers usually short and crest-like. Fruiting pedicels erect or 

 spreading, the capsule always erect. — ArthropodiMm atrictam, E. Br. ProJ. 276 ; 

 F. V. M. Fragm. vii. 66; A. laxum, Hook f. Fl. Tasm. ii. 51, t. 181, not of 

 Sieb. ; JJichopjijon humilis, Kunth, Enum. iv. 623, and probably also B. setosus, 

 Kunth, I.e. ,624 ; D. undulatum, Eeg. Gartenfl. ii. 1, t. 37. 



Hab.: Moreton Bay, i^itxaJare ; Darling Downs, ieic/ifta)*; Rockhampton (?) JSoidhiau. 



This species varies very much in stature, in the size and shape of the scarious bracts, in the 

 flowers all solitary or all in clusters of 2 or 3, erect or pendulous, in the size of the periantli and 

 ■length of the pedicels. 



2. S. Sieberianus (after F. W. Sieber), Kunth, Emm. iv. 628 ; Benth. Fl. 

 .Amir. vii. 59. Habit of the slender narrow-leaved specimens of D. xtrictus. 

 ■Stems mostly about 1ft. high, simple or slightly branched. Leaves very narrow. 

 Flowers in clusters of 2 or 8 like those of D. strictus, but the pedicels reflexed 

 from near the base. Appendages to the base of the anthers rather long and 

 almost adnate to the filament. Capsules always reflexed. — Arthropodium laxum, 

 -Sieb. in Eoem. et Schult. Syst. vii. 441. 



Hab.; Border of N.S.W. near Wallangarra. 



