1654 CXXXIX. COMMELINACE-aE. [Aneilcmcu 



short petiole above the sheath, mostly 1^ to 2in. long. Panicle short, but loose' 

 and slender, sessile above the last leaf, with few rather long filiform branches, 

 each bearing several flowers on filiform pedicels of 2 to 4 lines, solitary and 

 distant along the branches but always 2 together within the last bract. Brat^ts 

 very small and scarious except sometimes under the lowest 1 or 2 branches. 

 Outer perianth-segments ovate, obtuse, about If line long, inner ones longer. 

 Filaments all glabrous, 3 with perfect anthers, 3 with abortive ones. Ovary 

 2-celled with 2 superposed ovules in. each, cell and no rudiment of the third cell. 

 Capsule as broad as long and rather shorter than the perianth, the pericarp 

 rather more rigid and darker coloured than in A. acuminatum. Seeds tuberculate- 

 rugose. 



Ha}).: Herbert's Creek, Bomnan. 



4. A., siliculosum (capsule Silicula-Iike), R. Prod. 270 ; Benth. FL Austin 

 vii. 86. " A-un-du," Batavia River, Both. Quite smooth and glabrous except a 

 slight pubescence on the rhachis of the inflorescence. Stem weak, angular 

 branched and leafy, about a foot high. Leaves broadly linear or almost lanceo- 

 late, broad and stem-clasping at the base but scarcely .forming a distinct 

 sheath, except perhaps the lower ones, tapering to a point,, 6 to Tin. long 

 and 4 to 6 lines broad below the middle. Panicle ■ slender, thrysoid and 

 at length 6in. long or even more as in A. acuminatum, but the flowers much 

 smaller, the branches filiform with 2 or 3 flowers in each on filiform pedicels. 

 Bracts very small. Outer perianth-segiiients 1 to IJ line long, the inner 

 scarcely 2 lines. Filaments all glabrous, 3 with perfect anthers, 8 with small 

 abortive ones. Ovary 2-celled, with 1 ovule in each cell. Capsule very obtuse, 

 rather longer than the perianth. Seeds 1 in each cell, oblong, transversely 

 rugose. 



Hab.: Islands of the Gulf of Carpentaria, U. Brown ; Cape York, U'Oillivray . 

 Boots eaten both raw and roasted. — Roth, 



5. A. gramineum (grass-like), B. Br. Prod. 270 ; Benth. FL Aiistr. vii. 87. 

 Barely quite glabrous, usually with a scabrous pubescence at least on the leaf- 

 sheaths and some long hairs or cilia on the margins of the sheaths and base of 

 the leaves. Fibrous roots often much thickened, almost tuberous. Radical 

 leaves tufted, grass-like, with short broad sheaths, mostly 3 or 4in. long, but in 

 very luxuriant specimens at least twice that length, varying from 3 or 4 lines 

 broad and tapering to a long point to very narrow almost subulate. Stems erect, 

 6in. to nearly 2ft. high, with few long leaves dilated into short sheaths. Panicle 

 very irregularly and loosely branched, rarely much longer than broad, often forked 

 at the base but the branches otherwise simple, long or short, on a flexuose rhachis, 

 the pedicels rather distant along the branches with a scarious bract under each. 

 Outer perianth-segments varying from under 3 lines to nearly 4 lines, the inner 

 ones longer, usually pale blue and much veined, sometimes white. Filaments 

 all bearded, 3 with perfect anthers, 3 with small abortive ones. Ovary 3-eelled, 

 with 4 or 5 ovules in each cell. Capsule oblong or ovoid, rather longer than 

 the perianth. Seeds pitted-rugose. — F. v. M. Fragm. viii. 62. 



Hab.: Islands of the Gulf of Carpentaria, M. Brown ; Broadsound, It. Broicn ; Brisbane Elver, 

 Moreton Bay, A. Cimninghavi, F. v. Mveller and others; Peak Downs and Mackenzie Eiver, 

 F. V. Mueller; Eoekhampton, Bowman, O'Shanesy and others; Port Curtis, MGillirrayi 

 Keppel Bay, Thozet ; Eockingham Bay, Dallachy ; towards Wallangarra. 



6. A., giganteum (large), B. Br. Prod. 271 ; Benth. Fl. Austr. vii. 88. 

 Quite glabrous. Fibrous roots much thickened, almost tuberous. Radical 

 leaves tufted, linear or linear-lanceolate, with short broad sheaths. Gin. to 1ft. 

 long or even more, tapering to a fine point. Stems erect from amongst or 

 by the side of the leaf-tufts, 1 to 2ft. high or more, with few shorter 

 leaves dilated into rather long sheaths, the uppermost under the first 



