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Telopea Vol. 6(4): 1996 
In the systematic literature, various of these views have been adopted. In Thomcisia, 
for example, the position of the inflorescence is described as axillary or subterminal 
(Hutchinson 1967, Patrick 1993), or as terminal or leaf-opposed (Bentham & Mueller 
1863, Paust 1974, Jessop 1986). The inflorescence is called a raceme (Bentham & 
Mueller 1863, Hutchinson 1967, Paust 1974, Jessop 1986, Patrick 1993), which contrasts 
with Wydler's (1878) and Eichler's (1878) interpretation as a cincinnus. 
A detailed recent morphological analysis of the inflorescences of Lasiapetalum species 
by Classen (1988) reveals the sympodial character of the shoots and the structure of 
individual modules. She also discusses the problematic appendages forming an 
epicalyx ('bracts' or 'bracteoles subtending the flower' of other authors) and applies 
Troll's (1964) typological concepts to the synflorescences of Lasiopetalum. 
In view of the inconsistencies found in the literature a re-examination of the 
inflorescences of Australian Lasiopetaleae seemed appropriate. Since Lasiopetalum had 
been analysed by Classen (1988), our work focussed on the other genera of the tribe. 
Material 
The material studied was very kindly provided by Dr. R. Classen-Bockhoff (Aachen, 
Germany), Prof. F. Weberling (Ulm, Germany), and the Directors of the Museum 
National d'Histoire Naturelle (P), Royal Botanic Gardens Kew (K), and Botanical 
Museum Berlin-Dahlem (B) to whom we extend our sincerest thanks. It includes 
fluid fixed and herbarium specimens of the following species: 
Guichemtia ledifolia Gay, G. macraiitha Turcz., G. micrantlia (Steetz) Benth., G. sarotes 
Benth.; Hanmfordia bissillii F. Muell.; Keraudrenia coUina Domin, K. hermanniifolia Gay, 
K. wtegrifolia Steudel; Lysiosepalum involucratum (Turcz.) C.A. Gardner; Thomasia 
discolor Steudel, T. foliosa Gay, T. grandiflora Bindley, T. petalocalyx F. Muell., 
T. quercifolia (Andrz.) Gay, T. rhynchocarpa Turcz., T. sarotes Turcz., T. solanacea Gay. 
A list of specimens studied and their collecting localities has been deposited at the 
Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney or can be obtained from the authors. 
Observations 
The flowering shoots of all members of the Lasiopetaleae investigated are sympodia. 
Following HaUe et al. (1978), the repeating units of a sympodium will be named 'module' 
in this article. Each module comprises one or more nodes with foliage leaves and a 
terminal inflorescence. Tlris is overtopped by the axillary product of the most distal 
foliage leaf, leading to a leaf-opposed position of the inflorescence (Fig. 1). As usually 
only one axillary shoot continues the growth of the sympodium, a monochasium results. 
The number of foliage leaves per module is variable even within one individual 
(cf. Keraudrenia hermanniifolia), but some species appear to produce predominantly 
more (e.g. often six in Cuichenotia rnicrantha) or less (e.g. often two in Thomasia) 
leaves per module. Cuichenotia ledifolia has stipules resembling foliage-leaves, giving 
the impression of a whorl consisting of three 'leaves' and an inflorescence. 
In species like Thomasia quercifolia (Fig. 2 A), the terminal inflorescence is well 
differentiated before it is overtopped by the next module, hence the sympodial character 
of the whole shoot is obvious. However, the subsequent bud may sprout precociously 
in some species. Sometimes an accessory bud is found in the axil of the leaf subtending 
the next module (Fig. 2 B: ac). Strictly axillary inflorescences have not been observed 
