Aneilema.] CXXXIX. COMMELINACE/E. 1653 



ascending or erect stems. Flowers small, in a loose terminal panicle, singly- 

 pedicellate along the tranches within a small concave bract, or 2 together within 

 the terminal bract. 



The genus is widely spread over the tropical regions of both hemispheres, but more abundant 

 in the Old World than in the New. Of the six Australian species one is widely spread over 

 tropiostl Asia and Eastern Africa, the others as far as hitherto known are endemic. 



Klaments all glabrous. Ovary with only 2 perfect cells. Stems weak, 

 ascending. 



Leaves ovate-lanceolate. Ovules 3 or 4 in each cell. 



Panicle slender, thyrsoid, usually pedunculate. Capsule oblong . . i. A. acuminatum. 

 Inflorescence sessile, of 2 short 2-flowered branches. Ovary with a 



third imperfect cell 2. A. biflorum. 



Leaves lanceolate. Ovules 2 in each cell. Capsule as broadns long . 3. A. sclerocarpum. 



Leaves linear or narrow-lanceolate. Ovules 1 in each cell. Panicle long 



and slender. Flowers small. 4. A. silieulosum. 



Filaments all or some of them bearded. Ovary 3-eelled. Stem erect. 

 Badioal leaves linear, tutted. 



Filaments all bearded. Panicle irregular, the pedicels distant along the 



branches 5. A. gramineum. 



iFilaments of the perfect stamens bearded, of the staminodia glabrous. 

 Pedicels close together along the branches, leaving a thickened denti- 

 culate rhaehis 6. A. giganteum. 



1. A., acuminatum (acuminate), R. Br. Prod. 270; Bmth. Fl. Austr. vii. 

 S5. Stems from a creeping base ascending to 1ft. or rather more, including the 

 panicle, the whole plant glabrous, except minute raised dots, giving a roughness 

 to the leaves and rhaehis of the panicle. Leaves ovate-lanceolate, acute, 1^ to 

 ■Sin. long, mostly shortly petiolate above the sheath, the upper ones either 

 crowded together or all distant. Panicle slender, thyrsoid, often 3 to 6in. long 

 or even more, usually pedunculate above the last leaves, or rarely with smaller 

 leaves close under it; branches simple, filiform, singly or rarely in pairs along 

 the rhaehis, the bracts under the branches very small and lanceolate. Pedicels 

 filiform, 2 to 4 lines long, singly scattered along the branches within broad 

 cucuUate bracts under i line long, or 2 together within the uppermost bracts. 

 Outer perianth-segments oblong, 1^ line long, inner ones twice as long, almost 

 orbicular. Filaments all glabrous, 2 or rarely 3 with perfect anthers, 1, 2, or 

 rarely 3 with abortive anthers. Ovary 2-celled, with 3 or 4 (sometimes 5?) ovules 

 in each cell. Capsule oblong, very obtuse, much flattened, longer than the 

 perianth. Seeds irregularly tuberculate-rugose. — A. laxum, E. Br. Prod. 270 ; 

 A. silieulosum, F. v. M. Fragm. viii. 61, not of R. Br. 



Hab.: Endeavour Eiver and Bastard Bay, Bare&s ami SoZandei- ; Moreton Bay, F. v. Mueller, 

 Backhouse and others; Eoekhampton, O'Shanesy, Bowman and others; Rockingham Bay, 

 Dallacliy ; from the Tweed River to Wallangarra. 



2. A. biflorum (two-flowered), U. Br. Prod. 270 ; Benth. Fl. Austr. vii. 86. 

 Stems very slender, creeping and loosely branched at the base, the flowering 

 branches ascending to 6 or Sin. Leaves ovate-lanceolate, acute, distinctly 

 petiolate above the sheath, mostly 1 to l^in. long. Inflorescence sessile within 

 the last leaf and rarely exceeding it, consisting usually of 2 short branches, each 

 t)earing 2 flowers within a small cucullate bract, without any bracts below it. 

 Flowers rather smaller than in A. acuminatum. Perianth of that species. 

 Filaments all glabrous, 3 with rather large anthers, 3 much shorter with small 

 imperfect anthers. Ovary with 2 perfect cells containing usually 3 superposed 

 •ovules in each and a third smaller cell without perfect ovules. Capsule as in 

 A. acuminatum. Seeds transversely rugose. 



Hab.: Brisbane Eiver, not uncommon in southern localities, Bailey. 



3. A., sclerocarpum (fruit hard), F. v. jSJ. Fragm. viii. 61 ; Benth. Fl. 

 Austr. vii. 86. Stems weak, branching, ascending to about 1ft., with the minute 

 scabrous dotting of A. acuminatum. Leaves lanceolate, acute, tapering into a 



