Corynotheca.] CXXXV. L1LIACEJ5. 1633 



the 3 opposite the inner segments longer than the 3 others ; filaments filiform, 

 glabrous ; anthers ovate or oblong, usually shorter than the filaments, the cells 

 opening inwards in longitudinal slits. Ovary 3-celled, with '2 or sometimes only 



1 ovule in each cell, and all except 1 constantly abortive ; style filiform, with a 

 terminal stigma. Fruit a single ovoid indehiscent 1-seeded nutlet. Seed 

 obovoid, erect or pendulous, the funicle shortly expanded into a black strophiole ; 

 testa black, orustaceous, minutely granulated but often shining. — Slender rigid 

 much-branched herbs, leafless except a few radical narrow leaves early withering 

 away, and scarious scales under the branches. Flowers minute, solitary or rarely 



2 together within minute bracts along the smaller branches. 



The genus is limited to Australia. 



1. C. lateriflora (lateral-flowering), F. v. M. Fraf/m. vii. 68 ; Benlh. Fl. 

 Austr. vii. 49. Stems rigid but not thick, with numerous branches, dichotomous 

 or clustered 2 or 3 together, elongated and divaricate. Leaves very rarely seen 

 at the base of the stem, very narrow almost subulate, and only 2 or Bin. long, 

 those of the stem reduced to scarious scales under the branches, or the lower 

 ones sometimes produced into a subulate point of ^ to lin. Flowers whitish, 

 solitary or rarely 2 together along, the branches, on very short pedicels within a 

 minute scarious bract. Perianth l-J to nearly 2 lines long. Anthers oblong but 

 usually shorter than the filament. Fruit an obovoid nutlet, little more than 

 1 line long, the abortive cells forming a protuberance along one side. — Cmsia 

 lateriflora, R. Br. Prod. 277 ; Baker in Journ. Linn. Soc. xv. 860. 



Hab.: Islands of the Gulf of Carpentaria, E. Brown. 



15. DIANELLA, Lam. 



(After the goddess Diana.) 



Perianth persistent, of 6 distinct oblong segments, either equal in length or the 

 3 inner ones rather shorter, all with thin margins, and 3 to 5 rarely 6 or 7 parallel 

 veins more or less approximate in the centre. Stamens 6, 3 opposite the outer 

 segments hypogynous, 3 more or less adhering to the base of the inner segments ; 

 filaments abruptly thickened at the apex or nearly to the base ; anthers erect, the 

 cells opening in terminal pores often continued in longitudinal slits sometimes 

 nearly to the base. Ovary sessile, short, 3-celled, with several superposed ovules 

 in each cell ; style filiform, with a terminal somewhat capitate stigma, entire or 

 slightly 3-furrowed. Fruit a blue indehiscent berry. Seeds few, variously shaped, 

 with a black testa coriaceous smooth and shining, a white waxy albumen and 

 small embryo. — Glabrous perennials, with thick fibrous roots, the stock often 

 stoloniferous or slightly branched. Scapes or stems erect, rigid, often several 

 feet high. Leaves crowded at the base of the stems or more or less spread on 

 the lower part, distichous and sheathing at the base, with a long lamina, a few 

 •upper ones reduced to short sheaths and a small erect lamina. Flowers blue, 

 pedicellate, nodding, in loose dichotomous cymes collected in a terminal panicle. 

 Bracts at the base of the pedicels small and scarious or none. Pedicels articulate 

 close under the flower. 



The genus is chiefly Australian, but extends in a very few species to tropical Asia, the 

 Masearene and Paoifio Islands, and New Zealand. 



Leaves radical or nearly so, very shortly sheathing the base of the stem. 



.Anthers longer than the filament, which is thickened only above the middle. 



Leaves narrow, usually long and nearly flat, the sheathing base scarcely 

 keeled . . 1. D. liccis. 



Leaves long, narrow, rigid, with the margins much revolute, the sheathing 



Vinoo irn..i-j 2. D. revolvta. 



