1268 
CII. PHYTOLACCACE/E. 
[f oilonncarpus. 
their dorsal edges forming prominent ribs when approaching maturity, and finally 
separating completely, the sides then thin and transparent, empty and indehiscent 
in the lower part, broader and opening at the inner edge in the upper seed-bearing 
portion, but in alternate carpels close to the top or a little above the middle. — 
Gyrostemon attenuatus , Hook. Bot. Mise. i. 244, t. 53. 
Hub.: Brisbane Biver, Moreton Bay, A. Cunningham, Fraser ; Mount Mistake and other 
Ranges. 
Wood soft and spongy and of a light colour.— Bailey's Cat. Ql. Woods, Xo. 304a. 
2. C. cotinifolius (Cotinus-leaved), f. r. M. PI. Viet. i. 200; Benth. FI. 
Austr. v. 148. Usually a tall shrub or small tree, but attaining sometimes 40ft., 
of a pale or glaucous green. Leaves from broadly obovate or ovate to elliptical- 
oblong or almost lanceolate, obtuse or shortly pointed, contracted into a rather 
long petiole, 1 tG 2in. long. Flowers dioecious or monoecious but usually the two 
sexes in separate racemes in the upper axils, sometimes forming a terminal 
panicle, the males on very short, the females on rather long pedicels. Perianth 
about 2 lines diameter in the females, rather smaller in the males. Stamens 15 
to 20. Ovary about twice as long as the calyx, broadly turbinate, depressed in 
the centre, consisting of 20 to 30 or rather more carpels, the ovules in alternate 
carpels inserted near the top or about the middle of the cavity so as to give the 
appearance of biseriate cells or carpels. Styles or stigmas shortly conical and 
soon wearing off or falling off in a ring. Fruit obconical or obovoid, much less 
expanded at the top and much less depressed in the centre than in C. australis, 
about 5 lines diameter, the carpels less distinctly biseriate than when young, 
separating and dehiscent on the inner edge as in C. australis. — Gyrostetnon cotini- 
folius, Desf. in Mem. Mus. viii. 116, t. 10; Moq. in DC. Prod. xiii. ii. 39; G. 
punyens, Lindl. in Mitch. Three Exped. ii. 121 ; G. acacieefurniis, F. v. M. in 
Linmea, xxv. 439. 
Hab.: Recorded for Queensland by F. v. M. 
Order CIII. POLYGONACEjE. 
Perianth-segments 6, 5 or fewer, free or shortly united at the base, imbricate in 
the bud and more or less in 2 rows, regular and equal or the inner ones enlarged. 
Stamens variable in number, usually 9, 8, 6 or fewer, alternate with the perianth- 
segments or having no definite relation to them ; anthers with 2 parallel cells. 
Ovary free, with a single erect orthotropous ovule. Styles or style branches 2, 3 
or rarely more, the stigmas terminal, capitate, or dilated, entire or fringed. Fruit 
a small seed-like nut, usually with as many angles as styles, enclosed in or 
scarcely protruding from the persistent perianth. Seeds erect, with a membran- 
ous testa. Embryo in a mealy albumen, straight or central and more frequently 
curved and lateral ; radicle superior.- — Herbs shrubs woody climbers or rarely, in 
species not Australian, trees. Leaves alternate. Stipules usually thin and 
scarious, brown or silvery, forming a sheath or ring round the stem. Flowers 
small, herbaceous or coloured, clustered in the axils of the leaves, or within small 
sheathing bracts or even without bracts along the rhachis of simple or paniculate 
spikes or racemes, without bracteoles on the pedicels. 
A considerable Order dispersed over every part of the globe. 
Tribe I. Eupolygonea. — Herbs or undershrubs. Leaves alternate, the ocrea or 
stipular-sheatli sea rious-membra jious. Perianth 5-merous rarely 4 -menus. Stamens ] to 8 
rarely more. Styles often filiform, stiyma -capitate. 
Flowers mostly hermaphrodite. Style or style-branches 2 to 3 ; stigmas entire 1. Polygonum. 
Tribe II. Rumiceae. — Herbs, rarely undershrubs or shrubs. Leaves alternate or radical 
ocrea membranous-scarious. Perianth 6 or rarely 4-merous. Stamens 9 or very rarely some- 
times fewer. Styles short recurved-spreading, stigmas imbricate, peltate or horseshoe-shaped. 
Perianth G-merous, 3 inner enlarged in fruit (except 7?. acetosella). ... 2. Rumen. 
