A very small, smooth, inconspicuous plant, j - Z inches high, tufted, subereet or creeping, leaves 3 -3 lines
long, rather succulent, linear-oblong. Flowers sessile or shortly pedunculate, in the axils of the leaves, large for the
size of the plant. Sepah pale green, with white borders. Petals 0 in any of my specimens, h u t may probably be
found in others. Capsule globose, with few (usually four) large pale yellow-brown seeds, covered with large
tubercles, which microscopic character is perhaps the best.—I have this species from Tasmania, where it approaches
very closely the S. nmltiflora of th a t island ; b u t it is a much smaller plant, more flaccid, and the peduncles are
shorter.
3 . Stellaria decipi&ns, H o o k . fil. ; glabra, laxe cæspitosa, caule decumbente ramoso, foliis petiolatis
ovatis obovatisve acuminatis in petiolum la tum subciliatum angustatis, pedunculis sepalis æquilongis
axillaribus 1 - 3-floris medio bracteolatis folium superautibus v. abbreviatis, sepalis ovatis subacutis glaberrimis,
petalis 0 V. bipa rtitis, staminibus su b -8, stylis 3. F l. Antarct. v. 1. p . 7. Hook. Ic . P la n t, t. 680.
H ab. N o rth e rn Islan d , Colenso.
The original S. decipiens was found in Lord Auckland’s Group and Campbell Island, and I have introduced it
here from finding a New Zealand specimen out of flower in Mr. Colenso’s collection without a ticket. From the
two fonner plants, it may be known by its greater size, ovate or obovate pointed leaves, and larger flowers ; and
fi-om S. media, by wanting the hairs on the stem and calyx. I have never seen the seeds.
4 . Stellaria sp. ? caulibus flexuosis nodosis rigidis suberectis scaberulis, foliis parvis ad nodos fascicula
tis Kueari-subulatis glaberrimis curvis dorso profunde caualiculatis, pedunculis rigidis fructiferis elongatis,
floribus majusculis.
H a b . Middle Is lan d ; Nelson, B idw ill.
I have but very imperfect specimens of this plant, which is quite unlike any described species. Stems rigid,
2 -3 inches long, round, wiry, scabrid, many-jointed. Leaves in tufts at the joints, j inch long, subulate, rather
blunt, smooth and shining ; their margins so reflexed as to leave a deep furrow at the back. Peduncles of the old
fruit 1 - l i inch long. Sepals 2 lines long. Capsule six-valved, longer than the sepals.
Gen. I I . A E E N A E U , U n n .
P e ía la 5, integra. S ta m in a h - l ^ . S t y l i s . 1 -locularis, 3 -6-valvis, polysperma.
The only New Zealand species is found thi-oughout the North Temperate and Ai-ctic latitudes, as also in
Australia, Tasmania, South Ghili, and the Cape of Good Hope. The genus to which it belongs is a very extensive
one in the Northern hemisphere, being present in every flora of Europe, Northern Asia, and North America;
and has many species common to all these countries, especially mountain ones. I t becomes comparatively rare in the
Himalaya, and though extremely abundant in the Cordillera of North America, is hardly found in South America.
A few species are littoral, and such are the most widely diffused. A . media is one of these, and the only plant ot
the genus inhabiting the South Temperate zoue. (Name from arena, sand; many species affecting sandy places.)
1. Arenaria media, L ., A. Rich, et A. Cunn. Prodr. FL Antarct. v. 2. p . 2 5 0 . A. marina, Eng. B o t.
t. 958. A. pentaudra, Ba n k s et Sol. Ic. et M S S .
H ab. N o rth e rn and Middle I s la n d s ; east coast, B a n k s a n d Solander. Astrolabe Harbour,
I /U rm lle . Massacre B ay ? L ya ll. N a t. name, "N o te -n o h o ,”
Plant rather pubescent. Stmis many, 2 -3 inches long, subereet, from a stout root. Leaves numerous, linear,
inch long. large, membranous. numerous, axillary and terminal, pedunculate. oblong,
blunt, green, with a broad white margin. Petals smaller than the sepals, white or pale pink. Seeds flattened, with
a broad white wing.
Gen. I I I . C O LO BAN TH U S, Fenzl.
; 4 - 5 , coriácea, ovata, v. snbulata. Pe ta la 0. Stamina 4 - 5 , filamentis basi in annulum
perigynnm coalitis. S ty li 4 - 5 . Capmla 4-5-Iocula ris, polysperma; valvis staminibus oppositis.
Rigid or succulent, generally densely tufted, smootli lierbs, with short, usually subulate or grassy leaves, and
rather laa-ge but inconspicuous solitary flowers, on terminal peduncles. I t differs from Stellaria in habit, in the
want of petals, in its usually having four sepals, few stamens, and four- to flve-valved capsules; b u t is very nearly
allied to the European genus Sagina. The species are aU natives of the Southern hemisphere, and are chiefly insular.
(Name from koXo^o.., to mutilate, and arSos, a flower, the latter wanting petals.)
1. Cdohanüí-Iis B illa rd ie ri, F e n z l.; acaulis, casspitosus, foliis gramineis rigidis curvis setaceo-elongatis
trigonis superne canaUculatis basi la te vaginatis, pedunculis elongatis folio longioribus abbreviatisve,
floribus 5-meris. Fenzl. A n n . Tien. M u s. v. 1. p . 4 8 . F l. A n ta rc t. v. I . p . 1 4 . Spergula apétala, Labill.
Fl. Nov. Holl. Stellaria uniflora. B a n k s et Sol. Ic . et M S S .
H ab. N o rth e rn I s la n d ; east coast. B a n k s a n d Solander, Colenso. Middle I s la n d ; P o rt Cooper,
l y a l l . F l. December.
Stena very short, numerous, tufted. Leaves grassy, but rigid, i - l i inch long, broadly sheathing at the base.
Peiundes generally as long or longer than the leaves, thickened beneath the flower, which is erect, lA line long, with
five subulate, pointed, ovate, erect, coriaceous, green sepals, and as many stamens, styles, and valves to the capsule.—
This is a rather common Tasmanian plant, and is found in Campbell Island also.
N a t . O u d . VIII. BLATINBÆ.
Gen. I . E LATHL E, U n n .
2 - 5 . Pe ta la 2 - 5 , imbricata. Stamina hypogyna. Ovarium depressum, 1 -5 -lo cu lare v. septis
evanidis 1-loculare. Ovula plurima, placentis axiUaribus affixa; stylis brevibus. Capsula membranácea,
septiñ'aga. Semina plurima, anatropa, oblongo-cylindracea, longitudina liter stria ta e t transverse rugosa.
Tbe only New Zealand species is a very inconspicuous marsh-plaut, apparently identical with a North
American, Australian, aud Tasmanian species.—Stems herbaceous, au inch or two long, succulent, branched,
creeping. Leaves opposite, spathulate or obovate-oblong, blunt, entire. Flowers sessile, axillary. Calyx persistent,
three- to four-cleft, or of as many sepals. Petals tliree to four. Stamens two to four. Capsule membranous,
three- to four-celled, with often evanescent dissepiments, or one-celled, tlu-ee- to four-valved. Seeek cylindrical,
furrowed aud transversely striated. (Name of doubtful origin;—was applied to a corn plant by the Greeks.)
1, ISiMms, Americana, A r n .; pusiUa, repens, glaberrima, caule crassiusculo, foUis oppositis obovato-
oblongis obtusis brevissime petiolatis, floribus axillaribus sessilibus 3-meris, capsula septifrage 3-valvi,
dissepimentis evanidis, seminibus lente curvatis. Arnott, Ed. Journ. N a t. Sc. v. 1. y). 4 3 0 . Torrey et Gray,
F l. N . Am. E . gratioloides, A . Gunn. Prodr.
H ab. N o rth e rn I s la n d ; bogs a t Ilo k ian g a , R . Cunningham,
I have seen no specimens but Cunningham’s, though Mr. Colenso says it is common, and probably overlooked.
I t appears the same as a Tasmanian plant also found at Swan River; nor can I distinguish either from the common
North American F. Americana, which has two or three stamens, and in which, as in this, the dissepiments are
apparent in the ovary only.