Malpighiacece.\ 
THE COLONY OE VICTORIA. 
91 
In the Malice scrub on the Rivers Murray, Wimmera and Avoca, particularly in the limestone 
formation. Thence to the Rivers Darling*, Macquarie and Burdekin, and their desert tributaries, as far north 
as latitude 19° S.; also in the vicinity of Lake Torrens and the Flinders Ranges, and in the north-western 
parts of the Colony of South Australia, from whence probably it extends through the whole subtropical zone 
westward, having been found by Mr. A. Oldfield on the Murchison River in Western Australia, consociated 
with Nitraria, Eremophila maculata, E. longifolia, and other of its eastern companions. 
A shrub, generally of tall growth, sometimes forming a small tree, covered, at least in youth, densely 
•with exceedingly short downs, which impart an ashy color to the plant. Branches terete. Leaves 2-4 inches 
long, 2-6 lines broad, seldom broader, tliin-coriaceous or chartaceous, more frequently acute than blunt, flat, 
tapering into a short petiole, with a strong midrib, with numerous very divergent lateral nerves and more or 
less conspicuous veins. Peduncles generally few-flowered, sometimes only one-flowered, about 1 inch long 
or shorter or obliterated, filiform, mostly axillary, solitary, geminate or ternate, constituting, by the fall 
of the leaves, often a compound raceme, or crowded into a panicle. Pedicels a few lines to j inch long, 
thickened gradually towards the apex, articulated with generally short secondary peduncles, bearing two 
very minute bracteoles at the joint. Calyx patellar or cup-shaped, 1-2 lines long, about twice as broad, 
outside and inside downy; its teeth of uncertain number, very short, triangular, minutely pointed, often 
confluent or obliterated. Filaments 6-15, short, filiform, glabrous. Anthers yellow, linear-oblong, some¬ 
what four-sided, line long*, blunt at the base and apex. Pollen-grains ellipsoid, bursting lengthwise. 
Ovary short-stipitate, white-velvety. Style very short or obliterated. Capsule woody-coriaceous, with smooth 
almost spherical carpels, measuring 3-4 lines, which are lined with a very faint dorsal impression, seldom all 
advancing to maturity, suddenly attenuated at the base into the stipes of the fruit, which is about 1 line long. 
Seeds ovate-globose, obtusangular, affixed towards the base at the internal side of the cell, erect, not seen as 
yet in a perfectly developed state. Arillus dark-scarlet, fleshy, closely enveloping the inner side and the base 
of the seed, below which it is considerably extended. 
H. diversifolium (F. M. Fragm. Phytogr. Austr. i. 46), the only other known species, may be easily 
recognized by its partially toothed leaves, two-celled ovary, more or less compressed carpels, which are broader 
than long. 
Order MALPIGHIACEiE. 
Juss. Gen . Plant. 252. 
Sepals 5, often gland-bearing, quincuncial rarely valvate in prseflorescence. 
Petals 5, equal, almost constantly long-unguiculate, generally convolute in aestivation. 
Stamens frequently twice the number of the petals, often connate towards the base, 
sometimes partially sterile. Anthers two-celled, bursting lengthwise. Styles free 
or connate. Ovaries generally 3, rarely 2, 4 or 5, one-celled, uniovulate, connate or 
rarely free. Pruit generally consisting of three drupaceous, nucamentaceous or 
crustaceous frequently ivinged or cristate free or connate indehiscent carpels, rarely 
simple. Seed suspended on a fimicle, without albumen ,. Cotyledons straight or 
variously curved or folded. Radicle short, superior. 
Trees or shrubs, the latter sometimes of climbing growth, with very few exceptions 
restricted to the tropical and subtropical zone, much more numerous in the western 
than in the eastern hemisphere, rare in Australia. Indument, if present, formed by 
duplicate hair. Leaves often stipulate, opposite, rarely whorled or scattered, always 
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