Page:Flora Australiensis Volume 5.djvu/594



42. D. proteoides, Lindl. Swan Riv. App. 33. Very near D. tenuifolia, the stems more scaly, the leaves longer, broader although always under ½ in. broad, more rigid, divided into triangular rigid lobes contiguous or distant, very acute or even pungent-pointed or rarely almost obtuse. Flower-heads larger than in D. tenuifolia, on short lateral peduncles covered with imbricated scales without floral leaves. Involucre broadly ovoid, with very numerous broad black glabrous bracts, the innermost rows very much longer than the others and often attaining 3 in. Perianths not exceeding the involucre, glabrous or nearly so, the limb four lines long. Style about as long as the perianth, with a faintly sulcate but not thickened stigmatic end.—Meissn. in Pl. Preiss. i. 598, and in DC. Prod. xiv. 478.

43. D. runcinata, ''Meissn. in DC. Prod.'' xiv. 469. A dwarf shrub, the stems scarcely any or the leafy branches scarcely above ½ ft. long. Leave 6 in. to nearly 1 ft. long, deeply divided into numerous triangular lanceolate or falcate acute lobes, the largest ½ in. long, with recurved margins, tomentose several-nerved and reticulate underneath. Flower-heads nearly sessile, terminal or lateral. Involucres ovoid, 2 in. long, entirely like those of D. obtusa, as well as the flowers and style.

44. D. obtusa, R. Br. in Trans. Linn. Soc. x. 214, Prod. 398. Stems short and procumbent, tomentose-villous or concealed by imbricate scales. Leaves 6 in. to 1 ft. long, divided to the midrib or nearly so into numerous small triangular or oblong very obtuse segments, 1½ to 4 lines long, thick, with revolute margins, white underneath. Flower-heads terminal with a few floral leaves rather below them. Involucres ovoid, 2 in. long, the outer bracts short, ovate, passing into the long narrow inner ones, all obtuse, at first loosely tomentose, but soon quite glabrous turning black and finely striate like those of the three preceding species. Perianth nearly as long as the involucre, the tube slightly pubescent, the limb narrow, glabrous or hairy, 3 lines long. Style about as long as the perianth, the stigmatic end long narrow and furrowed.—Meissn. in DC. Prod. xiv. 471; D. multiserialis, F. Muell. Fragm. v. 185.