Leaves petiolate, varying from narrow-linear to broadly oblong-cordate, and from quite entire to hastate, and deeply
live- to seven-lobed or -partite, with long or short, narrow or broad segments. Floweis solitary, axillary, generally
pink, very variable in size. Pedicel with two small bracts. Sepals orbicular. Corolla 4 -1 ineh across,— T have in
tlie New Zealand Flora alluded to tlie probable identity o f tliis with some European forms of Convolvulus, as first
suggested by B rown (Prodr. I. c.), who remarks that his angustissimus is perhaps not distinct from einiliescens, which
is itself too nearly alhed to the European C. althaoides and lanuginosa. That C. angustissimus is the same with C.
erubescens there can be no doubt, for many of our specimens have tbe leaves of both forms on one plant ; and after
a careful comparison w ith numerous suites o f specimens of C. althæoides, I can find no character whereby to separate
the Australian plant fr-om it, except its usually broader and shoi-ter sepals. There is also a South American plant,
common (under several names) fi-om Mexico to Chili, which will probably prove the same.
Gen. I I . C A L Y ST EG IA , B r .
Omnia Convolvuli, sed caly ce bracteis foliaceis in c lu so , crvario semibiloculai-i, stigm a tibu s obtusis, et
capsula uniloculari.
There are four species o f this genus in Australia, o f which two are the Tasmanian ones liere described, and
the others arc both natives o f New Zealand also. The genus entirely resembles Convolvulus in babit and general
appearance, but has the calyx hidden between two large, foliaceous bracts, the stigmata broadei- and blunt, the ovary
incompletely biloeular, and the capside uniloculai-. (Name, koXv^, a calyx, and (rrc-yos, a covering)
1 . C a l y s t e g i a S e p iu in (Br. Prodr. 4 S 3 ) ; volubilis, caule glaberrimo v . puberulo, foliis oblongo-
sagittatis acuminatis alte cordato-bilobis, lob is rotundatis angustatis lobatis truncatisve, bracteis obtusis
acutisve, pedunculis angulatis plerumque pe tiolo duplo longioribus.— Choisy in B C . P ro d r . ix . 4 3 3 ; Fl.
A n t. ii. 3 2 S ; Fl. N . Z ea l. i. 1 8 3 . Convolvulus Sepium, L in n . Sp. P I . 2 1 8 ; F n g l. B o t. i. 3 1 3 . {Gunn, 5 5 .)
H a b . Abu n d an t in several parts o f the Islan d , c limbing over bushes in shaded places.— (El. D e c .)
D is t k i b . South-eastern and S outh-we stern Au stra lia ; N ew Zealand; St. P au l’s Island (South Indian
Ocean) ; Chili, Java, temperate Europe, N o r th America, and Asia.
A very heautiful plant, as common in some parts of Tasmania as in England, where it is known as the Greater
Bindweed, Beai-bind, or Hedge-Lily. I t may be recognized by its twining habit, large, oblong-sagittate, acuminate
leaves, ivith deeply bilobed, cordate bases, and angled lobes, and its large, white or rose-coloured flowers. The root
(rhizome ?) is sometimes large and tuberous, considered poisonous in Europe, but eaten by the New Zealanders.
2 . C a l y s t e g i a S o ld a n e l l a (Br. P rodr. 4 8 3 in nota) ; caule prostrato, foliis crassiusculis reniformibus
sin u basi lato rotundato integris v . sinuato-lobatis, pedunculis teretiusculis, bracteis cordatis obtusis
acutisve calyce æquilongis, capsulis magnis globosis, seminibus atris.— Choisy in B C . Prodi-. ix . 4 3 3 ; Fl.
N . Z eal. i. 1 8 5 . C. reniformis, B r . I. c. Convolvulus Soldanella, L in n . Sp. P I . 2 2 6 ; F k g l. B o t. t. 3 1 4 .
{Gunn, 8 6 6 .)
H a b . N e a r the sea. Circular Head.— (El. Jan.)
D i s t r i b . Shores o f South-eastern Australia, N ew Zealand, No r fo lk Isla n d ; Europe and extratropical
N o r th and Sou th America.
This is the Seaside Bindweed of England.— Stems prostrate, a few inches to 2 feet long. Leaves reniform,
1 - 2 inches broad. Peduncles solitary, one-flowered, nearly terete or angled. Flowers large, pale rose-purple,
je ; seeds black.
Gen. I I I . W IL SO N IA , B r .
Calyx monosepalus, urceolatus, 5 -dentatus, 5 -g on u s. Corolla infundibuliformis, lobis 5 imbricatis.
Ovarium 1-2 -lo cu Ia re , 1 -2 -o v u la tum ; stylis 2 , lon g e bifidis, stigmatibus capitatis.
FLORA OF TASMANIA.
disperma.— Suffruticuli humiles, e re c ti v. p r o s tr a ti, señceo-pubescentes v . g la b r a t i ; foliis sp a rsis v . a re te im-
brica iis, p a r v is ; floribus a x illa rib u s terminalibusve, so lita r iis , sessiUbus.
A singular genus, some of the species o f whicli resemble Frankenia in many important cliaracters besides habit ;
all are natives of the south and south-western coasts o f Australia and the north shore o f Tasmania.— SmaU, woody
01- herbaceous, prostrate or suberect, glabrous or silky plants, with very smaU, scattered or imbricating leaves.
Flowers small, solitai-y, sessile. Calyx ebracteate, m-ceolate, five-lobed and five-angled. Corolla funnel-shaped,
with five imbricating lobes. Stamens five, included or exserted. Ovary two-celled, with one erect ovule in each
cell, or one-ceUed with two ovules. (Named in honour of John Wilson, author of a Synopsis of British Plants.)
1 . W ilson ia humilis (Br. Prodr. 4 9 0 ) ; suffrutex se riceo-tomentosus, ramosissimus, ramis prostratis
diffusis, foliis dense distiche imbricatis crassiusculis cymbiformibus, floribus axillaribus, calyce tubuloso,
corollæ tubo calyce æquilongo lobis oblongo-linearibus, staminibus fauce v ix exsertis.— Choisy in B C .
P ro d r . ix . 4 5 0 . Erankenia cymbifolia, Eooh. Ic . P I . t. 2 6 5 . {Gunn, 6 6 1 .)
H a b . Great Swan Por t, Backhouse.
D i s t r i b . South and south-western coasts o f Australia, from Victoria to Swan River.
A small, prostrate, branched, woody, silky plant, with long, distichously-branched stems, covered with close-
set, distichous, imbricating leaves.— Leaves boat-shaped, very concave, blunt, silky on both surfaces, 1 4 line long.
Flowers small, axillai-y, sessile. Calyx tubulai-, with six short, blunt teeth ; süky inside and out. Corolla salver-
shaped.; tube as long as the calyx ; lobes five, Iinear-oblong, with concave tips. Anthers scarcely exserted. Ovary
flagon-shaped, one-ceüed, with two erect ovules. Style jointed on to the ovary, divided at the middle into two
slender, capitate arms.
2 . W ilson ia Backhousiana (H o ok . fil. Lond. Journ. B o t. vi. 2 7 5 ) ; glaberrima, caule prostrato
ramoso, ramis ascendentibus, foliis carnosis linearibus subacutis, floribus foliis longioribus, calyce oblongo
corollæ infundibuliformis tu b o calyce bis longiore, lobis lanceolatis acutis, staminibus lon g e exsertis, ovario
biioculari. {Gunn, 8 6 2 .)
H a b . Kelvedon, Great Swan P o r t, Sto ry, Backhouse.
D i s t r ib . Sou th coast o f Australia, from P o r t PhiUip to Swan River.
A very different plant from W. humilis, and perliaps deserving of being considered another genus, but untü
the other species of Wilsonia are investigated this cannot be determined ; it differs from W. humilis in habit and
foliage, ill the shoi-t, obloug calyx, iu the long tube of the funnel-shaped corolla, whicli has long, lanceolate lohes,
in the long, exserted filaments, and büoeular ovary.— A perfectly glabrous plant. Root woody. Stems very numerous,
flexuose, much diffusely-branched. Branches a span long. Leaves fleshy, hnear, 4 - z blunt or
subacute. Flowers longer than the leaves. Calyx quite glabrous externally, witb five subulate teeth, bearded internally.
Ovary generally büoeular, but I think the septum is not always complete. Anthers and stigmata black.
- - I have seen Melhounie specimens (from Adamson) with much shorter, almost oblong leaves.
Gen. IV . D IC H O N D R A , Forst.
Calyx 5-partitus. Corolla subrotata, limbo 5-par tito piano. Ova ria 2 , 2-sperma; stylis 2 basUaribus ;
stigmatibus capitatis. F m c tu s utriculi 2 mouospermi.— Herba p a r v u la , pubescens v . s e r ic e a ; caule p r o -
stra to ; foliis a lte rn is, reniformibus cordato-rotundatisve ; pedunculis a x illa rib u s, so lita r iis , u n ifo r is ; floribus
inconspicuis, fla v is.
Dichondra repens, the Australian (and probably tbe only) species of the genus, is a small, creeping, often tufted,
pubescent, villous or silky herb, with slender, prostrate stems, 3 -1 0 inches long; altemate, petiolate, cordate, or
reniform leaves, 4 -1 inch broad, round or notched at the apex, quite entire.— Peduncles solitai-j', axiUai-y, bractless,
about as long as the petioles, oiie-floivered. Flotcers yellow, small. Calyx five-parted. Corolla rotate ; limb about
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