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Transactions. 



water. The branches in this place reach a length of 60 cm., and they mar 

 cover the banks very thickly, those nearest the bank being very hard and 

 woody, the more superficial ones of the ordinary succulent type. 



At Timaru S. australis forms a thick carpet almost without a break, 

 and is recognisable at a considerable distance by its conspicuous reddish 

 colour. This red colour is found also to some extent in the stem of Sali- 

 cornia at H.C. and N.Br., but not so markedly as at Tu.. for it appears only 

 in a few scattered individuals. Probably this difference is due to a greater 

 amount of salt in the soil in the vicinity of the Timaru lagoons, which, as it 

 was shown above, are separated from the sea only by a very narrow bank 

 of shingle, and are sometimes even invaded by it. With reference to this, 

 Ganong (xi, 355) may be quoted. In his section on the Salicornetum, he 

 says, " In general, its members are more stiffly upright, sparser, and redder 

 the Salter the place." Comparison of the life forms of S. australis accord- 

 ing to station would seem to confirm this, except that it occurs not sparsely 

 but very luxuriantly right down to the edges of the lagoon. 



9. Spergularia media. 



Station. — (1.) H.C. : In the more sheltered parts of the salt meadows; 

 not very plentiful. (2.) N.Br.: As in (1). (3.) Tu. : Not collected. 



Life Form. — A succulent perennial herb of a somewhat loose cushion- 

 like habit. 



Stems 3-10 cm. long, branched, generally prostrate, with a few short 

 erect branches. In some cases longer, sparingly branched, straggling stems 

 are given of? from the cushion. 



Leaves 2-4 cm. long, opposite, in pairs. In the axils of the leaves are 

 short branches, with their young leaves, and so they appear as if arranged 

 in whorls. Probably this is Dr. Cockayne's reason for calling them 

 '' tufted " (xix, p. 348). They are fleshy, almost cyHndrical, but sHghtly 



A^ 



J,l L . 



I, I / j\ < 





Fig. 3. — SPERorLARiA media. 

 Part of cushion with one free branch, half natural size. 



flattened on their upper surfaces, and have sharply acute apices. At each 

 node the bases of the young leaves are covered with two membranous 

 stipules, which are opposite and combined for about two-thirds of their 

 length, their sharply pointed apices being free. Later on, when the leaves 

 lengthen and spread out, the two stipules become torn apart. Stems and 

 leaves are covered, but not thickly, with tiny white hairs. 



The root is a long stout tap-root, wdth few rootlets. 



No flowers of this species were collected, but fruits were found in April. 

 The fruit is a three-valved capsule. 



