Alternanthera.] C. AMARANTACE.®. 1233 
Plant more or less hairy or rarely glabrous. Leaves mostly broad. 
Rhachis of the spike woolly 3. A. nana. 
Perianth-segments enveloped in long woolly hairs proceeding from the 
base (often concealed in the young spike by the bracteoles). 
Bracteoles shorter than the perianth. Perianth-segments all equal 
(about 1 line long) and glabrous inside 4. A. angustifolia. 
Bracteoles as long as the perianth. Perianth-segments 1J to 2 lines 
long, the inner ones smaller and woolly inside at the base. 
Bracteoles and perianth-segments very acute. Spikes all axillary, 
ovoid. Anthers 5 5. A. decipiens. 
1. A. nodiflora (flowers in the form of knots) E. Br. Prod. 417 ; Benth. 
FI. Austr. v. 249. Stems prostrate, decumbent or ascending, Gin. to 1 or even 
2ft. long, glabrous or slightly pubescent in decurrent lines. Leaves linear or 
lanceolate, shortly contracted at the base, 1 to 2in. long. Spikes globular, about 
4 lines diameter when fully out, but often clustered many together into dense 
globular masses sometimes above lin. diameter, interspersed with a few small 
floral leaves. Bracts, bracteoles and perianth-segments narrow, acuminate, 
with fine points usually about 1J line long or rather more. Stamens very 
short (about J line), the filaments unequal, dilated at the base and united 
into a minute open cup, 2 or 3 bearing anthers, the others reduced to small 
teeth. Style distinct though very short. Utricle not half as long as the 
perianth, much compressed, broad, deeply notched with obtuse thickened mar- 
gins. — Moq. in DC. Prod. xiii. ii. 356. 
Hab.: Broadsound, B. Brown ; Armadilla, Barton ; in the interior, Mitchell. Common weed 
The species appears to be widely spread over E. India and Africa, but is not always easy to 
distinguish from A. denticulata, and perhaps some others. The Australian specimens 
when first in flower are very much like those of A. denticulata. When fully developed the 
perianths and bracts are much longer and more acuminate, the fruit shorter in proportion and 
broader than in A. denticulata, and the notch, although variable, usually much deeper. — Benth 
2. A. denticulata (toothed), Fi. Br. Prod. 417 ; Benth. FI. Austr. v. 
249. Stems prostrate, creeping and rooting at the lower nodes, often ex- 
tending to 2 or 3ft. and shortly ascending, glabrous or minutely pubescent 
in decurrent lines. Leaves linear or linear-lanceolate, obtuse or mucronate, 
shortly contracted at the base, mostly f to l|in. long. Spikes globular or 
at length ovoid or oblong, about Jin. diameter, closely sessile in the axils 
and sometimes 2 or 3 together but not so densely clustered as in A. nodi - 
flora, usually quite glabrous. Perianth segments under 1 line long, very acute 
though .shorter pointed than in A; nodifiora. Stamens and style entirely of 
that species. Utricle shorter than the perianth ; compressed and broadly 
obcordate or truncate, but longer in proportion and less notched than in 
A. nodiflora, shorter in proportion than in A. sessilis. — Moq. in DC. Prod, 
xiii. ii. 356; Ulecebrun denticulatum, Spreng. Syst. i. 620; A. sessilis, Br. 
var. Hook. f. FI. Tasm. i. 310. 
Hab.: Keppel Bay, It. Brown ; Port Denison, Fitzalan; Rockhampton, O’Shanesg; Gilbert 
River, Daintree ; Armadilla, Barton ; Darling Downs, Lau. A very common weed. 
Sometimes very difficult to distinguish from A. nodiflora, especially when first coming into 
flower, and on the other hand very near some varieties of the widely-distributed A. sessilis, Br., 
with which J. D. Hooker, perhaps not incorrectly, unites it. In general it differs slightly in the 
narrower leaves, glabrous spikes, more acute flowers and shorter utrieles. 
Var. ? micrantha. Smaller and more slender and sometimes slightly pubescent. Leaves 
linear, J to lin. long. Spikes 1J lines diameter, with a few hairs on the rhachis. Perianth- 
segments J to j line long, scarcely mucronate, the flowers very deciduous, leaving the bracts 
persistent. Not so common as the type form. 
3. A. nana (dwarf), E. Br. Prod. 417 ; Benth. FI. Austr. v. 250. Stems 
prostrate or ascending, loosely pubescent as well as the foliage, and often 
woolly at the nodes. Leaves oblong lanceolate or almost linear, obtuse or 
acute, tapering at the base and shortly petiolate, f to ljin. long or in the 
