1314 
CX. LAURINEjE. 
[ Cassytha . 
1. C. glabella (smooth), E. Br. Prod. 404; Benth. FI. Austr. v. 309. 
Glabrous. Stems filiform. Spikes pedunculate, reduced to heads of 3 to 6 or 
rarely more very small flowers. Perianth f line long, quite glabrous as well as 
the bracts ; in some specimens the tube undeveloped but the ovaries perfect, in 
others the flowers rather longer and the tube enclosing the ovary but the stamens 
apparently perfect. Fruit ovoid, about 2 lines long. — Meissn. in DC. Prod. xv. 
i. 254 ; Hook. f. FI. Tasm. i. 318 ; F. v. M. PI. Viet. ii. t. 68 ; C. dispar, 
Schlecht in Linntera, xx. 578, Meissn. l.c. 253 ; C. microeepliala, Meissn. l.c. 
253; C. casuarina, Nees. in PI. Preiss. i. 619; Meissn. l.c. 253. 
Hab,: Islands of the Gulf of Carpentaria, Ii. Brown, and other southern and northern 
localities. 
riant used as a medicine by the natives at Mapoon. — Both. 
2. C. pubescens (pubescent) Pi. Br. Prod. 404 ; Benth. FI. Austr. v. 310. 
Stems more robust than in C. glabella, less so than in C. meluntha, but variable, 
the young branches and inflorescence shortly pubescent or villous. Spikes short, 
forming when in bud close heads of few flowers, but lengthening out sometimes 
to fin., with the lower flowers rather distant, the peduncle always short. 
Flowers usually about If line long, pubescent outside, the inner segments 
appearing narrower in the fruiting specimens than in those in which the tube 
remains undeveloped. Ovary villous. Fruiting perianth ovoid, pubescent, about 
2 lines long. — Schlecht. Linntea, xx. 577 ; Meissn. in DC. Prod. xv. i. 255 ; 
Hook f. FI. Tasm. i. 318 ; C. piligera, Schlecht. Linnasa, xxi. 446 ; C. 
■ tasmanica, Meissn. l.c. 252 ; C. rugulosa, Meissn. l.c. 255. 
Hab.: Hervey Bay and Sandy Cape, B. Brown, and other southern and northern localities. 
3. C. paniculata (paniculate), U. Br. Prod. 40 i ; Benth. FI. Austr. v. 311. 
Quite glabrous or with a scarcely perceptible pubescence on the inflorescence. 
Spikes pedunculate, elongated and sometimes branched, the flowers usually 
smaller and more distant than those of C. Jiliformis, but sometimes difficult to 
distinguish from them. Perianth quite glabrous or rarely with a few hairs. 
Fruiting-perianth globular, with 6 raised longitudinal ribs. — Meissn. in DC. 
Prod. xv. i. 256 ; C. glabella, Sieb. PI. Exs., not of R. Br. 
Hab.: Moreton Island. F. v. Mueller, and many other localities. 
Var. remotiflora. Inflorescence very slightly puhescent. — C. remotiflora, F. v Muell. : Meissn 
in DC. Prod. xv. i. 256. — Islands of Moreton Bay. 
4. C. filiformis (thread-like), Linn. ; Meissn. in. DC. Prod. xv. i. 255 ; 
Benth. Fi. Austr. x. 311. Glabrous or the young shoots and inflorescence slightly 
pubescent. Spikes interrupted, 4 to nearly 2in. long, the flowers all distant and 
sessile or nearly so. Perianth 1 to If line long, glabrous except short cilia on 
the margins of the outer segments, the inner ones broad, the 3 outer stamens 
opposite the outer segments (as in most species) much broader than those 
opposite the inner ones, but all perfect. Ovary glabrous. Fruiting perianth 
globular, 2f to 3 lines diameter, smooth, without prominent ribs. — C. guineensis, 
Sehum. ; Meissn. in. DC. Prod. xv. i. 255 ; C. americana, Nees. ; Meissn. l.c. 
Hab.: Albany Island, Howick’s Group, and between Dawson and Burnett Rivers, F. v. Mueller ; 
Rockhampton, O'SJianesy, Bowman ; Enoggera Gap, F. M. Bailey. 
The species is widely spread over tropical Asia, Africa, and America, chiefly in maritime 
•districts. 
5. C. melantha (flowers black), Pi. Br. Prod. 404 ; Benth. FI. Austr. v- 
311. Stems glabrous, stouter and flowers larger than in any other species. 
Spikes very short and shortly pedunculate, sometimes almost reduced to heads 
especially when in bud and few-flowered, the fruiting; rhachis varying from 3 to 
6 lines long, the flowers sessile. Perianth about 2 lines long, pubescent, with 
short appressed hairs or nearly glabrous. Fruiting perianth ovoid-globular, 3 to 
