§ 4 . Leaves eight in a whorl.
6. Asperula minima (H o ok . iii. in L on d . Journ. B o t. vi. 4 6 4 ) ; cæspitosa, caulibus gracilibus confertis
ramosis erectis asc endentibnsve glaberrimis v . hispidulis, foliis sen is-o cton is minimis confertis anguste
liueari-obovatis v. ellip tico -ob lon g is acuminatis apice diaphano su p em e marginibusque recurvis hispidulis
glabratisve, pedunculis terminalibus axillaribusque folio longioribus, corollæ tu b o brevi. {Gunn, 1 2 5 1 .)
H a b . Common about Georgetown, G m n .— (F l. N o v .)
Much the smallest Tasmanian species, very densely tufted, forming matted patches.— Stems very slender, glabrous,
mucb branched, 3 - 5 inches long. Leaves very minute, inch long, six to eight in a whorl, linear-oblong
or obovate-acumiiiate, with diaphanous points, and recurved margms, glabrous or slightly scabrid on the upper
surface. Flowers large for the diminutive size of the plant, on terminal aud axillary, one- to thrcc-flowered peduncles,
louger than the leaves. Corolla funnel-shaped, with a short tube.
Gen. V. G A L IUM , X.
Omnia A sp e ru la , sed corolla rotata v . tubo brevissimo.
This is a much larger European genus than Asperula, but with a similar distribution. About twelve Australian
species are known, almost confined to the south-east quarter of the Continent and Tasmania ; one only has been
found m South-west Australia. The genus exactly resembles Asperula iu aU characters but the corolla, which is
rotate, or has a very short tube. (Name from yoXa, milk, in curdling which a species has been used.)
§ 1. Leaves quaternate, rarely senate. Fruit glahrous.
1. Galium vagans (Hook. fil. in L on d . Journ. B o t. vi. 4 6 1 ) ; totum ciliis patentibus subrecurvisve
hispido-pilosum, caule elongato gracili vage diffuse ramoso, ver tie illis remotis, foliis parvis quaternis e lliptic
is subacutis utrinque hispidulis, pedunculis axillaribus folio longioribus 2 - rarius 3-floris, floribus m in imis,
fructibus glaberrimis. {Gunn, 5 4 8 .)
H a b . Dry busby places, probably n o t uncommon.— (F l. N o v ., D e c .)
Distrib. Yictoria, Robertson ; N ew Sou th W a le s, A . Cunn.
A slender, straggling species, with sparingly leafy branches, a foot long, more or less covered with slender,
rigid, spreading or recurved long hafrs. Leaves small, much shorter than the intemodes, i inch long, narrow-
elliptical, subacute, more or le ss hispid on both surfaces. Peduncles axillary, becoming much longer than the leaves,
slender. Flowers and f r u it both very small.— This plant varies extremely in size, and in the amount o f hairiness
or hispidity.
2 . Galium ciliare (H o ok . fil. in L on d . Journ. B o t. vi. 4 6 1 ) ; caulibus brevibus suberectis e lougatisv
e e t prostratis va g e diffuse ramosis la x e b ispido-pilosis, fohis 4 - 6 -n is internodiis brevioribus elliptico-
ovatis acutis utrinque v. superne la x e cihatis, pedunculis folio subæquilongis plerisque trifloris, floribus
flavis, ovario glaberrimo.
Y"ar. ct; caulibus e longatis. (Gm» « , 2 3 7 , 1 1 2 8 .) (Ta b . X L I .r i .)
Yar. D ; caulibus abbreviatis. {Gunn, 4 9 2 .) (Tab. X L I . D .)
H a b . Dry pastures, abundant; Hampshire H ills, Arthur’s Lakes, Circular Head, Hobarton.— (Fl.
O c t.-D e c .) {v. V.)
A common and variable speeies. Stems 2 inches to l è foot long, slender, sparingly branched, suberect when
short and stout, covered more or less copiously with long spreading hairs. Leaves small for the size of the plant,
in distant whorls of four, or rarely six, subpetiolate, elliptical-oblong, subacute, more or less pilose on the upper or
on both surfaces. Flowers apparently a bright yellow, rather ]arger than is usual in the Tasmanian species of the
geuus. P l a t e X L I . A . and B . Fig. 1, branch, with leaves and inflorescence; 2 , flower; 3 , the same viewed from
above; 4, young fru it:— all n
§ 2, Leaves quaternate. Fruit hispid.
3 . Galium australe (DC. Prodr. iv. 6 0 9 ) ; hispido-pilosa scaberula v . glabrata, caulibus elongatis
vage diffuse ramosis ad ángulos scaberulis pilosisve , foliis quaternis anguste elliptico-lanc eolatis acuminatis
hneari-oblongisve superne pun c tis sparsis asperis subtus glaberrimis, pedunculis floriferis gracilibus 1 - 3 -
floris, fructiferis robustis elongatis, fructibus se tis elongatis patentibus uncinatis hispidis.— G. australe, m r .
læve, MueUer. G. densum. Nob. in L o n d . J o um . B o t. vi. 4 6 1 . {Gunn, 5 4 9 .)
Hab. Common in many parts o f the Colony, Gunn.— (FI. N o v ., D e c .)
Distrib. N ew South Wales, Yictoria, and S outh-we st Australia.
I quite agree with Dr. Mueller in referring ray G. demum to G. australe, which is imperfectly described iu De
Candolle’s ‘ Prodromus.’— A loosely tufted or straggling, why, more or less scabrous or hispid plant. Stems a few
inches to two feet long, branched, rough at the angles. Leaves quaternate, narrow elliptic-lanceolate or linear-
oblong, acuminate, rough on the upper sui-face, glabrous beneath. Peduncles slender, one- to three-flowered,
lengthened and robust in fruit. Fruit liispid, with long, spreading, hooked bristles.
4 . Galium squalidum (H o ok . fil. in Lond. Journ. B o t. vi. 4 6 2 ) ; totum hispido-pilosum, caulibus
ascendentibus e basi ramosis pihs patentibus hispidis, internodiis foliis bis terve longioribus, foliis quaternis
lanceolatis acutis acuminatisve utrinque v . superne hispidis margimbus recurvis, pedunculis floriferis folio
longioribus 1 -3 -flo r is , ovariis breviter h ispidis. {Gunn, 5 4 8 ? 1 1 2 9 .)
Hab. Dry pastures, e tc ., abundant, Gunn, etc.— (Fl. Oct.) («. v.)
Distrib. South-eastern Australia.
This will probably prove to be a variety of G. australe, from which it differs in its more rigid habit, shorter,
smaller leaves, more uniformly hispid, and shorter, denser setæ on the fruit. In some respects it agrees better with
De Candolle’s character of G. australe than the plant I have referred to that species.
5 . Galium albescens (H o ok . fil. in Lond. Journ. B o t. vi. 4 6 2 ) ; totum p ilis mollibus brevibus
cano-pubescens, caulibus robustis suberectis parce ramosis, internodiis folio brevioribus æquilongisve, foliis
quaternis elliptico-ovatis lineari-oblongisve acutis utrinque molliter hispido-pilosis, pedunculis hispidis axil-
iaribus solitariis unifloris, floriferis brevibus fructiferis vahdis decurvis, fructibus se tis uncinatis hispidis.
{Gurtn, 1 1 3 0 .)
Hab. Rocky places on Mount YYelHugton, Gunn.— (Fl. Aprü.)
This appears to be a very distinct species from any o f those previously described ; but until those obscure and
troublesome genera are carefully studied in their native countrj-, it is impossible to form satisfactory conclusions as
to tlich- limits.—Whole plant covered v itli a rather soft, hispid pubescence, extending over both surfaces of the
leaves and the peduncles. Stems rather robust, 8 -1 8 inches long, sparhigly branched. Leaves in rather distant
whorls, elliptic-ovate or oblong-acute. Flowers usually solitary. Peduncles of the fruit dccurved, stout.
N a t . O u d . X L II. COMPOSITÆ.
W ith the exception perhaps o f some parts o f Africa, no country so large, and possessed o f similar
climates, is so poor in Composite as Australia. Instead o f being, as it ofteu is, the large st amongst P hæ n o gams,
it possesses fewer species thau cither My rta c eoe or Leguminosoe, and presents much le ss o f peculiarity
in both genera and species than those Orders do. T he number o f species liitherto discovered falls con siderably
below 6 0 0 ; and many o f these b e in g represented by single scraps o f specimens, or b ein g collected
I