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THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST. | 
SOME NOTES ON KOCHIA VILLOSA,- LIND: 
VAR. TENUIFOLIA, F.v.M. 
By Arcupracon F. HE. Havmanp. 
The paddock of my Rectory at Coonamble was covered with a 
growth of Kochia villosa, Lind, var. tenuifolia, ¥.v.M., and thus 
T was in a fair position to make some close and regular observa- . 
tions of certain features of foliage and pollination, the following 
having been noted :— 
Foliage—The development of the foliage is both peculiar and 
interesting, apparently comprising three stages—First: On the 
apices of the branches the new leaves grow to a length of half- 
an-inch, in section are a plano-convex, and in form linear lanceo- 
late; they are somewhat villous, but not so much so as the type. 
Secondly: As the branches lerigthen out the older leaves quickly 
become contracted to one-quarter of an inch or even less in 
length, are quite terete and ovate, and sometimes even globular, 
glabrous and very succulent; at this stage, in section, they are 
partially hollow by reason of the severe contraction, and the. 
spongy tissues very loose. Thirdly: The leaves soon pass into a 
withered condition, and then shrivel up, remaining persistent as 
charred remains on the otherwise bare branches. ; 
"i 
Pollination—The flowers are axillary, develop very slowly, 
have a perianth of five lobes almost bullate, and with ciliate 
membranous margins closing firmly over the ovary. At a very 
early stage the two styles with dark brown stigmas appear erect, 
and soon become covered with pollen, though the stamens are ‘as 
yet very short and far concealed under the ovary, and the an- 
thers young. It is not till the fruit is half grown-that the hori- 
zontal dorsal wing around the perianth begins to develop, and 
when it is fully grown it is almost entire, having only one inter- 
ruption, and resembles a frilled collar with one end slightly 
overlapping the other. Having examined some twenty flowers, 
T found that at this stage the stigmas. wither down, and the 
lobes of the perianth lift slightly, allowing the stamens with 
their ligulate filaments and cordate anthers to become exserted. 
The wing now grows to its normal width of about three lines as 
though to afford a stage for insects to settle upon so that they 
may become a.vehicle for the now ripened pollen. From such - 
circumstances I conclude that this plant is cross fertilised, and 
