Cymbidium are found in 34° S. lat.; but this is probably about their southern limit in that country, no species having been met with on any part of its south coast. They have, however, been observed in a considerably higher latitude in New Zealand, in the northern island of which several species were collected by Sir Joseph Banks, in about 38° S. lat., and Epidendrum autumnale of Forster grows in the neighbourhood of Dusky Bay, in upwards of 45° S. lat.
I am not acquainted with the limit of this section in South America; but in South Africa, at the Cape of Good Hope, none of those, at least, that are parasitical on trees, have been observed.
576] ASPHODELEÆ.[1] In this order I include the greater part, both of Asphodeleæ and Asparageæ of Jussieu, distinguishable from each other only by texture and dehiscence of fruit; differences which, as they separate Stypandra from Dianella, and Eustrephus from Luzuriaga, cannot be admitted to be of more than generic importance.
I confess myself unable to point out satisfactory distinguishing characters for this order, in my description of which, however, I have noted two circumstances, neither of them indeed peculiar to the order, but both of them appearing to extend through the whole of it; namely, the reduction of stamina from six to three, which occasionally occurs, constantly taking place by the suppression of those opposite to the outer series of the perianthium; and the existence of the black crustaceous testa or outer integument of the seed. It is probable I have given too much weight to this latter circumstance, in combining, partly on account of it, genera so very dissimilar as Anthericum, Xanthorrhœa, and Astelia.
Xanthorrhœa, which I have included in Asphodeleæ, is in habit one of the most remarkable genera of Terra Australis, and gives a peculiar character to the vegetation of that part of the country where it abounds. This genus is most frequent in the principal parallel, but it extends to the
- ↑ Prodr. fl. Nov. Holl. 274.
