1G32 CXXXV, LILIACE^. 



13. CffiSIA, R. Br. 



(After Frederick Csesius.) 



Perianth spirally twisted over the ovary after flowering, but at lengtb 

 deciduous, of 6 3-nerved segments, shortly united at the base, all equal in lengthy 

 but the inner ones with broader thin margins. Stamens 6, attached to the base 

 of the perianth, and shorter than the segments ; filaments filiform ; anthers 

 oblong, shorter than the filaments, recurved, the cells opening inwards in longi- 

 tudinal slits. Ovary sessile, 3-celled, with 2 superposed ovules in each cell ; style 

 slightly thickened upwards, undivided. Capsule depressed, obtusely 3-angled or 

 3-lobed, opening at length in 3 valves. Seeds usually solitary in each cell,, 

 globular, the short funiculus expanded into a small broad strophiole ; testa black, 

 criistaceous, tubercular-granulate. — Tufted herbs with fibrous roots more or less- 

 thickened into oblong tubers. Leaves grass-like, crowded at the base of the stem. 

 Stems simple or branched. Flowers blue or rarely white, in clusters or sessile 

 umbels along the upper portion of the stem or branches, forming terminal 

 racemes. Bracts very short and scarious. 



Besides the Australian species, which are all endemic and possibly varieties of a single one,, 

 there are several African ones. - . 



Perianth-segments 3 to 4 lines long. Leaves often rather broad, not sur- 

 rounded by filaments 1. C. vittata. 



Perianth-segments under 3 lines long. Leaves rather broad or narrow, not 



surrounded by filaments, flaccid with fine nerves 2. C. paniflora. 



1. C. vittata (ribbon-like), i?. Br. Prod. 277; Benth. Fl. Austi: vii. 46. 

 Fibres more or less thickened into long tubers. Leaves crowded at the base of 

 the stem, with more or less scarious sheaths and grass-like blades, very variable 

 in length and breadth, but mostly shorter than the stem, a few much smaller at 

 the base of the branches. Stem erect, simple, or with a few long branches,, 

 usually about 1ft. high, but sometimes not half that length, and sometimes much 

 longer, the inflorescence occupying more than the upper half. Umbels or clusters 

 of 2 to 4 or rarely more flowers, sessile along the rhachis, surrounded by very- 

 short scarious bracts, the filiform pedicels within the umbel varying from 2 to 

 4 lines. Perianth-segments usually blue, 3 to 4 lines long. Capsule about 

 2 lines broad, depressed at the top, and more prominently lobed than in 

 Antliericum ; but when ripe opening at the top in 3 valves, as in that genus. — 

 Baker in Journ. Linn. Soc.xv. 358 ; Hook. f. Fl. Tasm. ii. 53 ; F. v. M. Fragm. 

 vii. 68. 



Hab.: Herbert Creek, Boiimian ; Warwick, Beckler, and many other southern localities. 

 Var. chlurantlia. Perianth segments white with a greenish centre. C. clilorantha, F. v. M. 

 Fragm. i. 63 ; Baker in Journ. Linn. Soc. xv. 359. 

 Hab.: Peak Downs, F. v. M. 



2. C. parviflora (flowers small), R. Br. Prod. 277; Bmth. Fl. Austr.. 

 vii. 47. — Closely allied in every respect to C. vittata, and scarcely more slender or 

 with narrower leaves, but both the flowers and fruits much smaller, the perianth- 

 segments under 3 lines long. — Baker in Journ. Linn. Soc. xv. 358 ; Hook. f. Fl. 

 Tasm. ii. 53 ; F. v. M. Fragm. vii. 67 ; C. occidentalis, R. Br. Prod. 277 ; EndL 

 in PI. Preiss. ii. 33 ; Baker in Journ. Linn. Soc. xv. 358 ; C. micrantha, LindL 

 Swan Riv. App. 57 ; Endl. I.e. 34. 



Hab.: Moreton Bay, iJcrft. jF. J/jicHo-; Burnett Eiver, Da?j/ ; Eockhampton ? Bowman. 



14. CORYNOTHECA F. v. M. 



(Referring to the club-shaped fruit.) 



Perianth spirally twisted over the ovary after flowering but at length deeiduouSr 

 of 6 spreading segments, all nearly equal in length, the inner ones rather broader.. 

 Stamens 6, attached to the base of the perianth and shorter than the segments. 



