Polygalece .] 
THE COLONY OE VICTORIA. 
183 
The direction of the sepals, a character which perhaps is not implicitly to be relied on, seems the 
principal note to distinguish the broad-leaved and broad-capsuled forms of T. ericifolia from T. ciliata. It 
proved frustraneous to limit all the plants, here drawn together under T. ericifolia, into distinct species. 
Nevertheless the varieties retain typical differences with considerable firmness. Thus the narrow-leaved 
original T. ericifolia, which is almost restricted to our eastern frontiers, shows mostly linear-verticillate leaves 
with revolute margin, long pedicels, glandulous-hairy more ovate and acuminate sepals. T. denticulata, also 
an eastern form, has scattered toothed leaves. T. thymifolia, which bears particular resemblance to Bauera, 
is as a variety recognized by also verticillate ovate or lanceolate leaves, often ovate and acuminate sepals 
and silky ovaries. Its capsule is particularly inconstant in form. It is this variety which extends to the 
Glasshouse Mountains of Moreton Bay. In our mountain regions it is from Mount Disappointment east¬ 
ward exceedingly frequent. The T. glandulosa produces scattered toothed ovate or lanceolate or rhomboid 
leaves, copious gland-liairs and a broad capsule, the proportion of width of the latter being in most varieties 
to some extent ruled by the width of the leaves. It occurs more commonly in Tasmania than in Victoria, 
being here noticed on the ranges near or towards the Avon River of Gipps Land, also on the dry scrubby 
hills timbered with ironbark-trees between the Ovens and Broken River. The sepals and even the petals of 
this variety are occasionally long persistent. The length and color of the anther-tubule is variable ; but it 
is never contracted and extended to the great length and tenuity of that of some Western Australian species; 
the style is sometimes at the apex distinctly cleft into its two constituent parts. 
To the main form of T. pilosa may be ascribed hairy narrow scattered leaves. We possess it not 
so frequently in our colony as it occurs towards St. Vincent’s Gulf^ where this variety solely occurs. In 
Tasmania it abounds. Specimens gathered in the Avon Ranges of Gipps Land obliterate the distinctions 
between the leaves of certain broad-leaved states of T. ericifolia and narrow-leaved forms of T. ciliata. One 
of the most curious of all the varieties of T. ericifolia is the var. apliylla, which occurs on scantily timbered 
quartz-ranges at the sources of the Genoa River, especially on the White Peak. It is almost constantly as 
much devoid of leaves as T. juncea; but its ramifications are terete, often flexuose or even singularly 
contorted; the pedicels arise from the axis of minute lanceolate-subulate bracts, between which and the 
occasionally developed rarely large ovate leaves all possible metamorphic gradations may be observed. It is, 
however, to be noted that the fruit of this leafless variety remains as yet unknown. 
The tubule of the anthers of all these assumed forms of T. ericifolia exhibits no reliable notes in 
reference to color and length; it may be seen pale, yellowish, purple or black. 
Order POLYGALEiE. 
Juss. in Annul, du Mus. xiv. 386. 
Elowers bisexual, unsymmetrical. Calyx: consisting of five sepals, rarely 5- or 
3-cleft, imbricate in bud; 2 or 3 sepals exterior , small; 1 or 2 of which anterior and 
one posterior; the two inner sepals lateral , usually large and petaloid. Petals unequal , 
3-5, connected by the staminal tube , rarely free; the posterior ones approximated; the 
anterior one the largest, including the genitalia. Stamens 8, rarely 3, 4 or 5. Eila- 
ments connate into a tube, which is slit in front, rarely free. Anthers one-celled , 
opening by a terminal pore, rarely two-celled. Ovary 2-celled, seldom 1- or 3-celled, 
with a single pendent rarely two superposite ovules in each cell. Styles concrete into 
1. Stigma labiate or simple. Eruit capsular, compressed, bicelled, bursting with 
