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» 



Gypsoj)Mla!\ XVI. cakyopiiylle^. 155 



A genus limited to the extratropical regions of tie northern hemisphere in the Old ^Yorld 



with the exception of the following species. It is chiefly distinguished from Sajtoiiaria by 

 the calyx. 



1. G« tubulosa, Boiss, Dlagn. PL Or. L 11. A slender erect diohoto- 

 mous annual, often not above 2 or 3 in., but sometimes 8 to 10 in. high, more 

 or less viscid-pubescent, and often slightly hirsute. Leaves linear-subidate, 

 rarely attaining ^ in., and often much shorter. Pedicels in the forks, or 

 sometimes appearing axillary from 1 branch only being developed, 4 to 8 lines 

 long, erect or spreading. Calyx erect, 1^ lines long, narrower than in most 

 Gypsophilas, with 5 prominent nerves, the teeth short and obtuse. Petals 

 I'ed, narrow-oblong, a little longer than the calyx. Capsule ovoid-oblong, 

 rather exceeding the calyx. Seeds black, elegantly pitted under a lens. — F, 

 Muell. PL Vict. i. 20G ; DicJioglottis tubulosa, Jaub. and Spach, 111. PL Or. i. 

 14 /. 6 ; L. aiistraUs, Schlecht. Linua:a, xx. 631. 



N. S. "Wales. Cook's River and Ncpean river, R. Brown; Cox's River, A. Cun- 

 ningham. 



Victoria. Sandy localities, by no means rare, F. Mueller. 



Tasmania, {F. Mueller, I.e.) I have seen no specimens from the island. 



S. Australia. lu sandy localities, near Bethauie, Behr, 



W. Australia, Brummond, n. 93. 



A native of the East Mediterranean region of Europe and Asia, possibly introduced into 

 Austraha and New Zealand, where it is also found ; yet from the localities where it was so 

 early collected by R. Browu, and its general diiFiision over extratropical AustraHa, it is dith- 

 tult to conceive how a plant unknown in tliose parts of Europe whence the early colonists 

 proceeded should have so promptly established itself. It is allied to the more common 

 G. muralis, which, however, has not been detected in Australia, and is always quite distinct, 

 especially in the form of the calyx, which is that of a true G^psophila, whilst G, tubulosa 

 Js m this respect almost intermediate between that geuns and :S(qjonaria, 



2. SILENE, Linn. 



Calyx lO-neiTed, rarely many-nci-ved, 5-toothcrI or 5-lobecl. Petals 5, 

 With a naiTow claw, and usually with a double scale. Stamens 10. Torus 

 usually elongated. Styles usually 3. Capsule opening in 6 or rarely 3 teeth 

 or short valves. Seeds laterally attached ; embryo curved round the albu- 

 men.— Herbs. Flowers solitary or cyraose, often forming unilateral spikes 

 or an oblong thyrsus or panicle. 



A very large geuus, chiefly abundant in Enrojie, N. Africa, and temperate Asia, with a 

 '«w N. American and S. African species, and only introduced into Australia. 



*1. S. saUica, Linn.; DC. Prod., i. 371. A hairy, slightly viscid, 

 ttiuch branched annual, 6 in. to nearly 1 ft. high, erect or decumbent at the 

 oase. Lower leaves small and obovate, upper ones narrow and pointed, 

 ^'lowers small, nearly sessile, generally all turned to one side, forming a 

 simple or forked terminal spike, with a linear bract at the base of each 

 nowcr. Calyx very hairy, with 5 slender teeth, at first tubular, afterwards 

 ovoid and much contracted at the top. Petals very small, entire or notched, 

 pale red or white, or in one variety with a dark spot.— 5". anglica, U^daniai, 

 <:<:rasloidea and ^ninquevulnera, Liuu.; Keichb. Ic. El. Germ. vi. t. 272, 2/d. 



A pfaut probably of South European origin, now couimon in sandy, gravelly, and waste 

 places, especially near the sea, iu most parts of the world, and established ni several Austra- 



