Page:Flora Australiensis Volume 5.djvu/362

 Perianth rather above $1/2$ in. long, glabrous or minutely pubescent besides the small tufts of hairs at the tips of the laminæ. Style-end slightly clavate, minutely papillose-pubescent, separated by a slight constriction from the pubescent slightly bulbous base of the nearly glabrous brush. Receptacle ovoid-conical.—F. Muell. Fragm. vi. 240.

 3. ADENANTHOS, Labill.

Flowers hermaphrodite. Perianth regular or nearly so, the tube slender, usually splitting more or less on the lower side; laminæ equal, the perianth usually falling off entire, leaving a very short persistent annular base. Anthers all perfect and free or the lower one linear and sterile, sessile within the segments of the limb, the connective tipped with a small appendage. Hypogynous scales or glands 4, often shortly adnate at the base to the persistent perianth-ring but protruding beyond it. Ovary sessile, with a single laterally attached amphitropous ovule. Style elongated, usually arched and protruding above the middle from the slit of the perianth-tube before the end is set free by the opening of the limb, finally erect and longer than the perianth, usually attenuate below the end, which is more or less thickened or dilated elliptical or linear, with a stigmatic slit descending from the apex to the middle or nearly to the base of the lower side. Fruit a small oblong or rarely ovoid obtuse indehiscent nut (or drupe?) with a single erect seed.—Shrubs sometimes almost growing into small trees, sometimes low and prostrate, often silky-villous. Leaves entire or divided, often rather small and crowded, flat or terete, rarely rigid and pungent-pointed. Flowers red or greenish, terminal or axillary, each flower sessile within a short involucre of 4 to 8, usually 6, imbricate bracts, the inner ones the longest, the involucres solitary or in clusters of 3 or 4, shortly pedunculate or nearly sessile. Perianth usually pubescent or villous outside, the laminæ bearded inside behind the anthers or in a few species almost beardless. Torus with a tuft of hairs round the ovary within the glands.