1232 
C. AMARANTACEiE. 
[Nijssanthes. 
a rigid spinescent point, with 2 or 3 more or less conspicuous nerves on each side 
of the prominent midrib, the 2 inner ones smaller glabrous and scarcely nerved. 
Stamens 4, the filaments short, the intervening scales or staminodia broad, 
truncate, about half as long as the filaments. Fruit nearly globular, about f line 
long, membranous except the depressed summit which is harder. — Moq. in DC. 
Prod. xiii. ii. 309. 
Hab.: Dawson and Brisbane Rivers, F. v. Mueller. I have never met with specimens of this 
plant. 
I have seen but few specimens. The perianths are usually but not always more thickened at 
the base and reflexed than in N. diffusa. The spinescent bracts and summits of the perianth- 
segments are very variable in length and relative proportions, but they are usually, especially 
the bracteoles, shorter than in A T . diffusa. The difference in the stamens appears to be constant. 
— Benth. 
2. N. diffusa (diffuse), R. Br. Piod. 418, Benth. FI. Austr. v. 217. An 
annual or biennial closely allied to N. erecta, but usually more branched from the 
base, more slender, and the parts smaller. Stems attaining 1 to 3ft., the greater 
portion consisting of a broad leafy panicle, the branches dichotomous or the 
lower ones trichotomous. Leaves ovate or oblong, obtuse or acute, rarely much 
above lin. and mostly small. Spikes or clusters of flowers very short, in the 
axils and in the forks of the panicle, the flowers usually smaller than in N. erecta, 
but the segments as well as the bracts and bracteoles even more variable in size 
and relative proportions than in that species ; sometimes all three bracts are 
subulate almost from the base and 3 to 4 lines long, more frequently the 
bracteoles are much shorter, but all three very divaricate ; one of the outer 
perianth-segments usually long, the other much shorter, both spinescent, 
the inner ones lanceolate and tapering into a shorter spine. Stamens always 2 
only, with short broad truncate scales or staminodia between them. — Moq. in 
DC. Prod. xiii. ii. 308 ; N. media, R. Br. Prod. 418 ; Moq. l.c. 309. 
Hab.: Shoalwater Bay, It. Brown ; Brisbane River, F. v. Mueller ; Rockhampton, Sutherland 
O'Slianesy ; Nerkool Creek, Bowman. 
9. ALTERNANTHERA, R. Br. 
(Stamens alternate with staminodia.) 
(Telanthera, Moq.) 
Flowers hermaphrodite. Perianth divided to the base into 5 segments, all 
equal or the outer ones larger, ovate or lanceolate, scarious and coloured (usually 
white) glabrous or with long woolly hairs at the base. Stamens united at the 
base into a short exceedingly thin cup ; filaments short with or without inter- 
vening teeth or lobes, unequal, 2 or three of them often without anthers and 
reduced to short teeth. Anthers small. Ovary uniovulate ; style short some- 
times scarcely any, with a capitate stigma. Fruit an indehiscent utricle usually 
compressed. Seeds vertical. — Annual or perennial herbs, mostly prostrate, 
glabrous or softly hairy. Leaves opposite. Flowers small, in axillary sessile or 
pedunculate spikes (very rarely also terminal), usually short or oblong. Bracts 
and bracteoles scarious. 
The genus is widely spread over the warmer regions of both the New and the Old World. 
The extreme tenuity of the staminal cup renders it exceedingly difficult to ascertain its form, 
unless examined in the bud before the enlargement of the ovary. — Benth. 
Staminal cup without teeth between the filaments. 
Perianth perfectly glabrous. 
Plant glabrous or slightly pubescent at tbe nodes or in two decurrent 
lines. Leaves narrow. 
Perianth-segments and bracteoles (above 1£ lines long) with fine 
points. Spikes at length several together in dense globular 
clusters 1. A. nodiflora. 
Perianth-segments and bracteoles (1 line long or under) broad with 
short points. Spikes small, at length cylindrical and scarcely 
ustered 2. A. denticulata. 
