The Flower Biology of Marianthus 
Lineatus. 
By OSWALD H. SARGENT. 
(Read before the Society 25th May, 1909 ) 
Marianthus lineatus, F. v. M., is a member of the Natural 
Order Pittosoftoraceae. I have found it in several places about 
York, on ironstone land, under the shelter of “ White Gum ” 
trees (Eucalyptus redunca chiefly) . It varies between a stiff 
shrub growing independently of support, and a twiner twisting 
its wiry stem round young trees, in one instance to the height of 
ten feet, but usually much less. The usual form is a shrub of 
about three feet, with many of its branches twining together at 
the top. 
It blooms profusely — the leaves being almost hidden by the 
multitude of flowers — from January to April. The flowering 
plant, however, is inconspicuous, except when seen against a 
dark background, as the general color effect of the blossoms is a 
warm grey, which differs but little from the tone of the surrounding 
vegetation at this time of year. A vigorous plant continues in 
flower for fully three months. The inflorescence is a sort of mixed 
panicle. The terminal flower of the whole first unfolds, then 
the terminal flowers of the branches, commencing with the lower- 
most. In this district the panicle is usually reduced to three 
flowers, a terminal and two laterals, and these three follow the 
cymose-racemose order of anthesis. My time has been fully 
occupied in studying the flower, so I have not yet given the 
inflorescence the attention it deserves. 
The individual blossom is remarkably elegant. The calyx 
is an inconspicuous whorl of tiny triangular sepals ; beauty 
resides, as usual, in the corolla. This is about an inch across, 
and consists of five petals resembling notes of exclamation (!) 
in shape. Their bases are erect, interlocked, but not connate, 
and occupy a complete circle round the essential organs. A little 
above the base all bend outwards and diverge apart. The lateral 
and anterior petals are also bent sideways, so that the upper part 
of the corolla occupies a half circle only. The apices of all the 
petals are gracefully recurved. These recurved tips are creamy 
white.' Below on a cream ground mottled with purple each petal 
bears five longitudinal stripes of a rich warm purple hue. So 
fashioned and painted the corolla may well be described as a 
fairy bonnet fit for Titania herself. 
