1216 
XCIX. ILLECEBRACErE. 
[. Dysphania . 
1. D. littoralis (of the coast), II. Br. Prod. 411 ; Benih. FI. Austr. v. 164. 
A small plant apparently annual, although sometimes hard and perhaps fleshy at 
the base, with ascending branching stems of 2 to 3in., glabrous or nearly so. 
Leaves all petiolate, ovate or oblong, obtuse, entire, rather thick and sometimes 
fleshy, not above 2 lines long. Flower-clusters all axillary, but nearly all close 
together, forming a terminal leafy spike occupying the greater part of the plant, 
the lower clusters sometimes rather more distant. Flowers numerous in the 
cluster, chiefly females. Perianth of 3 or rarely 2 segments falling off together 
and enclosing the fruit, the segments all equal, obovate, clavate, concave, con- 
tracted at the base, about J line long. Fruit still shorter, obovoid, somewhat 
oblique ; style 1 very finely filiform and very deciduous. Stamens 1 or 2, but 
difficult to find, and anthers falling off early from the very minute flowers. Seeds 
shiny. 
Hab.: Comet River, P. O'Shamsy ; Keppel Bay and Mackay, A. Dietrich, ( F. v. M.). 
2. 3J. myriocephala (flower-heads numerous), Benth. FI. Austr. v. 165. A 
diffuse or procumbent glabrous or slightly glandular pubescent annual, much 
longer than the preceding species, although the ascending branching stems rarely 
exceed 6 inches. Leaves petiolate, oblong or lanceolate, obtuse, or scarcely acute, 
rarely above Jin. long. Flower-clusters all axillary and distinct, very numerous, 
occupying the greater part of the plant, globular and scarcely exceeding 1 line in 
diameter when in fruit, and often much smaller, although containing 10 to 20 or 
even more flowers, chiefly females, with a very few hermaphrodite or male ones. 
Segments of the fruiting perianth single and falling off separately about J line 
long, obovoid- clavate and as it were inflated, shortly contracted at the base. 
Seed ovoid like that of D. littoralis, but more regular and slightly flattened ; 
styles 2, very fine, but shorter than the single one in D. littoralis. Stamens 1 or 
2, with very short broad filaments and comparatively large anthers. — D. littoralis, 
Moq. in D.C. Prod. xiii. ii. 86, not of R. Br. 
Hab.: Mantuan Downs. 
2. SCLERANTHUS, Linn. 
(From skleros, hard, and anthos, a flower.) 
(Mniarum, Forst.) 
Perianth-tube as long as the lobes, somewhat enlarged and hardened after 
flowering. Stamens 5 or fewer, opposite the lobes, connected by a membrane or 
raised line at the mouth of the perianth-tube, with or without intervening teeth 
or filaments, or in species not Austrafian perfect stamens. Styles 2, slender. 
Fruit a membranous utricle enclosed in the perianth-tube. — Small densely 
branched herbs. Leaves opposite, narrow, connected by a raised line or sheathing 
membrane, without stipules. Flowers solitary or several together, sessile or 
nearly so within a pair of scarious bracts at the end of the axillary peduncles. 
.The genus is represented by a few species in Europe, temperate and subtropical Asia and 
northern Africa. 
1. S. biflorus (two-flowered), Hook. f. FI. X. Zeal. i. 74; and FI. Tas. i. 
42 ; Benth. FI. Austr. v. 259. A low tufted perennial, with short decumbent 
stems forming dense masses of a few inches diameter or rarely looser and lengthen- 
ing to 6in., glabrous or w r ith a minute pubescence on the branches. Leaves 
crowded, narrow-linear, acute, entire or minutely scabrous, serrulate, mostly 3 to 
4 lines long. Peduncles axillary, at first very short and sometimes remaining so, 
but more frequently lengthening before or after flowering and exceeding the leaves 
when in fruit, each bearing 2 small flowers sessile within a pair of ovate acute 
concave bracts, and one ot the flowers (the latest in expanding) with a pair of 
smaller bracteoles. Perianth when in flower h to £ line long, with 4 or 5 herbaceous 
