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G. AMARANTACEiE. 
[. Alternanthera . 
broader limbed specimens under fin. Spikes sessile in the axils, about fin. 
diameter, at first depressed globular but at length ovoid or shortly cylindrical, 
4 or 5 lines long and very shining, the rhachis woolly. Perianth-segments 
oblong or lanceolate with a small point, thickened and hardened at the base 
when in fruit, If to above If line long, glabrous as well as the short bracts 
and bracteoles. Stamens very short, the filaments filiform or slightly dilated 
at the base, usually 3 bearing anthers and 2 reduced to small teeth. Utricle 
scarcely half so long as the perianth. — Moq. in DC. Prod. xiii. ii. 360; 
lllecebrum nanum, Spreng. Syst. i. 819. 
Hab.: Broadsound, R. Brown-, Brisbane River, F. v. Mueller-, Stanthorpe. 
Var. major. Larger and more hairy, leaves longer, perianth-segments acute. — Rockhampton, 
O'Slianesy. 
The species is very variable, especially as to the size of the flowers, and some specimens come 
very near some forms of A. sessilis, but always with the utricle much shorter in proportion to 
the perianth. Brown’s specimens as well as some of F. v. Mueller’s have the flowers much 
smaller than in the others. 
4. A. angustifolia (leaves narrow), B. Br. Prod. 417, but not of Moq. ; 
Benth. FI. Austr. v. 250. Prostrate, glabrous or slightly lioary-pubescent. 
Leaves linear in the typical form, above lin. long and much like those of 
A. denticulata or even narrower. Spikes sessile, solitary or rarely clustered, 
seldom above fin. diameter and mostly smaller and very short, the rhachis 
more or loss woolly. Bracts very acute, glabrous, shorter than the perianth. 
Perianth-segments lanceolate, acute, 1 line long or a little more, with long 
woolly hairs outside ; the inner ones narrower than the outer. Filaments 
short, only 3 bearing anthers, all dilated at the base. Stigma capitate, 
sessile in the flowers examined. — lllecebrum angusti folium, Spreng. Syst. i. 818. 
Hab.: Islands of the Gulf of Carpentaria, R. Brown. 
5. A. decipiens (apt to be taken for another), Benth. FI. Austr. v. 251. 
Apparently a small annual, the specimens under 6in., branching and softly 
hirsute. Leaves ovate or ovate-lanceolate, rather acute, contracted into a 
rather long petiole. Spikes numerous, axillary, closely sessile, ovoid and 
about fin. long in the specimens seen but still very young. Bracteoles 2 
lines long, narrow and tapering into a fine point. Perianth enveloped in long 
silky woolly hairs, the segments narrow and tapering into fine points. Stamens 
all five perfect in the specimens examined. 
Hab.: Subtropical Australia, Mitchell, (Herb. Hook.). 
10. GOMPHRENA, Linn. 
(Referring to the flowers being wedge-shaped.) 
(Philoxerus, E. Br.) 
Flowers hermaphrodite. Perianth divided to the base into 5 segments, all 
equal or the outer ones rather larger, linear, scarious and coloured with the centre 
green at least at the base, woolly outside below the middle or glabrous. Stamens 
united at the base in a long or short tube, the free parts of the filaments short, 
with or without intervening teeth or scale-like lobes; anthers 1-celled. Ovary 
uniovulate ; style short or filiform, with 2 short, often minute, linear stigmatic lobes. 
Fruit an indehiscent utricle. Seed vertical. Annual or perennial herbs, glabrous 
or with more or less of soft woolly hairs. Leaves opposite, Flowers in terminal 
or rarely axillary spikes usually dense, either shortened into globular or 
hemispherical heads or more or less lengthened ovoid-oblong or cylindrical. 
Bracts and bracteoles scarious, glabrous, the bracteoles more or less complicate and 
keeled. Ovary glabrous. 
The genus comprises a considerable number of species, the extra-Australian ones all from 
the warmer regions of America, one of which (G. globosa) of early cultivation in gardens, is now 
a common weed in E. India, Queensland and New Guinea. 
