Pothos.] CXL\. AEOIDEiE. 1G99 



wide and rounded at the end, without any or only a very small lamina, and 

 passing gradually from that to oblanceolate, 1| to 4in. long, 3 to 9 line« broad at 

 the upper end, where it is rounded or truncate or broadly or deeply obcordate, 

 the lamina from ovate-acuminate to lanceolate, almost always shorter than the 

 petiole but sometimes longer by 2in., narrower or rarely broader than the petiole, 

 rounded or narrowed at the base. Spikes shortly pedunculate, cylindrical, 1 to 

 2in. long when in flowerj sometimes nearly Sin. when in fruit. Spatha lanceo- 

 late, varying from shorter to rather longer than the spadix. Berry red, oblong 

 or ovoid, 5 to 6 lines long. — Schott, Aroid. 23, t. 49 ; P. loiu/ipcs, Scliott. Aroid. 

 23, t. 47 (there placed in the wrong section from not having seen the fructifica- 

 tion, but correctly transferred in Prod. Syst. Aroid. 568) ; P. cylindi-icm, Presl. 

 Schott. Aroid. 2 !, t. 48 ; P. australasicuK, F, v. M. Fragm. i. 62. 



Hab.: Moreton Bny, F. v. Mueller ; Pine Eiver, 11'. Hill; Port Macltay, Kernst ; Rockiryliam 

 Bay, Dallacliy ; Mount Drjander, Fitzalan ; a very common scrub climber. 



Fruit eaten after roasting at Atherton, but raw on Tully Eiver. — Roth, I.e. 



7. GYMNOSTACHYS, R, Br. 

 (Referring to the spikes being naked or wanting a spatha.) 



Flowers hermaphrodite, loosely packed in slender spikes without any or with a 

 very minute spatha. Perianth of 4 scale-like segments in 2 series. Stamens 4, 

 opposite the segments ; filaments short, thick, somewhat compressed; anthers 

 2-celled, terminal, the cells opening outwards. Ovary oblong, 1-celIed, with 1 

 ovule suspended from the apex ; stigma sessile. Berry ovoid or globular. Seed 

 with an appressed rather thin testa. Embryo short, in the axis of a rather hard 

 albumen ; radicle superior. — Herb with tuberous roots and very long grass-like 

 radical leaves. Spikes clustered in the axils of leafy bracts along a tall otherwise 

 leafless scape. 



'J'he genus is limited to the single species endeniie in Australia. 



1. Cr. anceps (two-edged). 11. Br. Prod. 337; Benth. VI. Amir. vii. 157. 

 " Boorgay," Russell Eiver. Roots swollen into fusiform tubers. Radical leaves 

 erect, rather rigid, strongly nerved, 1 to 3ft. long, and usually 3 to 4 lines broad. 

 Scapes nearly as tall, much flattened, with acute smooth or serrulate-scabrous 

 edges. Clusters of spikes usually 3 or 4, distant from each other in the upper 

 part of the spike, the leafy bract subtending the cluster rigid erect and shorter 

 than the spikes. Spikes usually 2 or 3 rarely more in each cluster, on short 

 peduncles with 2 or 3 sheathing scales at the base of each peduncle, the slender 

 spikes very unequal, the longest often 2 to 3in. Flowers small, sessile but not 

 closely packed. Perianth-segments or scales obovate, truncate, not exceeding the 

 ovary. Berries 3 or 4 lines long. — Schott. Gen. Aroid. t. 97 ; F. v. M. Fragm. 

 viii. 187. 



Hab.: Moreton Bay, Backhouse, F. r. Mveller and otliers ; Condamine Kiver, JIurtmann ; 

 Eoekbampton, Bowman, Thozet; common on the borders o£ scrubs. 



This plant produces an excellent strong fibre. 



Ordee CXLVI. LEMNACEiE. 



Floating plants, without distinct stems or real leaves, but consisting of small 

 sometimes minute leaf-like fronds, either separate or cohering 2 or 3 together by 

 their edges, emitting in most species one or more fibres from their under surface 

 into the water, and multiplying by similar fronds growing out of their edges. 

 Flowers very rare, appearing from a fissure in the edge or upon the upper surface 

 of the frond, and consisting of a minute membranous bract or spatha, enclosing 

 1 or 2 stamens and a single ovary. Perianth none. Filaments usually shortly 



