XCIII. ACANTHACEJE. 
1149 
10. DICLIPTERA, Juss. 
(Referring to the 2 bracts which conceal the calyx.) 
(Brochosiphon, Nees). 
Calyx deeply divided into 5 lobes or segments. Corolla-tube usually slender, 
dilated at the throat, the upper lip concave entire or notched, the lower broader 
nearly entire or 3-lobed, the middle lobe much broader than the others. Stamens 
2, ascending under the upper lip ; anthers 2-celled, the cells placed usually one 
higher than the other, but without any basal appendage. Ovules 2 in each cell. 
Capsule usually flat, shortly contracted and seedless at the base, the dissepiment 
separating from the valves when opened and turning upwards elastically with 
the retinacula. Seeds flat.— Herbs. Flowers 1 to 3 together, sessile within a 
flattened involucre of 2 bracts concealing the calyx, the involucres usually several 
in clusters or short cymes, in the axils of the floral leaves or forming terminal 
loose spikes or racemes, with usually 2 subulate or spinescent bracts outside the 
flat ones. Corolla, owing to the peculiar inflorescence, appearing frequently 
resupinate with relation to the main axis, the upper entire or 2-notched lip 
becoming the lowest. 
A considerable genus dispersed over the tropical and subtropical regions of the New and the 
Old World. 
Involucral bracts oblong lanceolate, acuminate cuspidate, minutely pubes- 
cent, the clusters mostly in axillary whorls 1. D. Leonotis, 
Involucral bracts orbicular, very flat, glabrous or glandular-pubescent, all in 
axillary clusters .. 2 . D. glabra. 
Involucral bracts ovate, aristate, convex, ciliate-hirsute on the upper side, 
the clusters forming terminal loose spikes or racemes ....... 3. D. spicata. 
1. D. Leonotis (Leonotis-like), Dalz., Clarke in Hook., FI. Brit. Ind. iv. 
553. An erect herb. Leaves elliptical acuminate glabrous, 3in. long, lin. broad 
on petioles of £in. Flower clusters mostly in axillary whorls. Bracts about 
6 lines long and 1 J line broad, much acuminate. Corolla about 8 lines long. Capsule 
3 lines long, very hairy. Seeds minutely glandulose-papillose, scarcely verrucose. 
— D. Burmanni, Nees. in Wall. PI. As. Ear. lii. 112 and F. v. M., Fragm. vii. 62. 
Hab.: Near Rockingham Bay and Herbert River, -J. Dallachtj (F. v. II.). 
2. D. glabra (glabrous), Dene. Herb. Tim. 55, Benth. FI. Austr, iv. 552. A 
much-branched annual of 1 to 2 ft., glabrous or the foliage sprinkled with a few 
rather rigid hairs. Leaves lanceolate or almost linear, mostly acute, contracted 
into a very short petiole, 1 to 2 in. long. Involucres either 2 sessile in the axils 
or 4 in pairs on 2 very short peduncles or several in a more or less cymose but 
very dense cluster, the involucral bracts very broadly ovate or nearly orbicular, 
mucronate-acute, glabrous or glandular-pubescent and ciliate, flat and usually 
unequal, the larger one 3 to 6 lines diameter, and always with an outer pair of 
rigid linear-subulate spreading or recurved outer bracts or spines. Flowers 
within the bracts solitary or rarely 2 or 3, with minute bracteoles. Calyx 1 to In- 
line long, divided to below the middle into linear-lanceolate lobes. Corolla 
shortly exceeding the bracteoles, the lips nearly as long as the tube, the upper one 
ovate and notched, the lower one broad and 3-toothed. Capsule very small, flat, 
nearly orbicular, usually 2-seeded. — Nees in DC. Prod. xi. 476; Brochosiphon 
australis, Nees. l.c. 492 ; Dicliptera armata, F. v. M. Fragm. vi. 88. 
Hab.: Gilbert River, E. Daintree (F. v. 31.) 
3. D. spicata (flowers in spikes), Dene. Herb. lim. 56, Benth. FI. Austr. iv. 
553. An erect paniculately branched annual of 1 to 2 ft., the stem and leaves 
glabrous or minutely pubescent. Leaves lanceolate or almost linear, very acute 
and mucronate, almost aristate, narrowed into a petiole, 1 to 2 in. long, the flora 
