Droseraceæ.
If there were no other evidence of the springy nature of the soil at Swan River, the abundance of plants of this order would attest it. Only two species are mentioned by Dr. Endlicher, namely, D. stolonifera, a small species, with verticillate leaves, and panicles of white flowers; and D. macrantha, a very fine species, with stems sometimes more than two feet long, and panicles of large rose-coloured flowers; D. filicaulis of the same author, previously supposed to be confined to King George's Sound, has also been met with. To these are five species of Drosera and one of Byblis to add; all of which are plants of a very remarkable appearance. D. pallida87 has close panicles of large white flowers, with the general appearance of D. macrantha. D. gigantea88^^ has a loose panicled erect stem, sometimes as much as two feet high, with small white flowers; D. heterophylla89 has simple stems, each terminated by three or four very large flowers, and is remarkable for the lower leaves being flat and entirely destitute of the orbicular glandular fringed expansion of the upper leaves; D. erythrorhiza90 is a small plant with obovate whorled leaves, and bright scarlet bulbs the size of the largest kind of hazel nut; D. macrophylla91 is a plant with a similar
(87) Drosera pallida; glaberrima, caule flexuoso, foliis caulinis alternis longissimè petiolatis peltatis orbiculatis glanduloso-fimbriatis: axillaribus brevibus geminis, racemis terminalibus paniculatis, petalis sepala acuta integerrima duplò superantibus.—Flowers apparently white or pale pink. There is also a variety of this, if not a distinct species, with the sepals minutely pubescent, and slightly fringed.
(88) Drosera gigantea; caule erecto paniculato glaberrimo, foliis brevè petiolatis peltatis triangularibus longissime fimbriatis: axillaribus geminis ferè æquilongis, paniculâ laxâ multiflora, alabastris subrotundis, petalis sepala acuta glaberrima superantibus.—Flowers small, white.
(89) Drosera heterophylla; bulbis sphæricis nigris, caule erecto simplici flexuoso glaberrimo, foliis radicalibus linearibus acuminatis caulinis subtriangularibus peltatis brevè petiolatis fimbriatis axillaribus nullis, racemis terminalibus paucifloris, petalis sepala oblonga obtusa glanduloso-serrulata triplò superantibus.
(90) Drosera erythrorhiza; bulbis sphæricis coccineis, caule brevi simplici verticillum unicum foliorum gerente obovatorum versus marginem glanduloso-villosorum, cymâ terminali puberulâ, petalis sepala acuta glabra duplò superantibus.
(91) Drosera macrophylla; bulbis . . . . caule brevi simplici verticlllum unicum foliorum gerente obovatorum glanduloso-hirtorum, pedunculis elongatis paucifloris glabris in medio verticilli fasciculatis, petalis sepala acuta glabra duplo superantibus.—Like the last in habit, but three times as large.
