156 XVI. CARYOPHYLLE.^. [SUene. 



lian colonies, especially about Swan Eiver, from wlience it is so frequently sent with in- 

 digeuous plants, ttat it cannot be omitted from the Australian Flora. 



Diaiitlius larhatus, Linn.; DC. Prod. i. 355, the European Sweet-WiUiam, and i>. 

 Aryneria, Linn., DC. 1. c, a common European species, are in F. Mueller's Herbarium as in- 

 troduced plants, the latter as having been found on tlie stony crests of the ridges on Darebin 

 Creek. 



Lychnis Githaf/o, Lam.; DC. Prod. i. 387, the Com Cockle, a common cornReld weed, 

 probably of East Mediterranean origin, has been introduced with European corn into some 

 of the Australian colonies, as in many other countries. It is a tall, erect annual, clothed 

 "nith long whitish appressed hairs. Leaves long and narrow. Flowers ou long leafliss 

 peduncles, rather large and red, remarkable for the long green linear lobes of the calyx pro- 

 jecting much beyond the petals ; the latter are broad, uudivided, without scales, Stanicus 

 10. Styles 5. Capsule opening in 5 teeth. 



Lychnis Cmli-rosa, Dur. ; DC, Prod. i. 386, is also in F. Mueller's Herbarium as an in- 

 troduced plant at Shipton. 



Tribe II. Alsine^e. — Sepals free, or only united by the disk at their 

 base. Petals and stamens hypogynous or slightly perigynoiis, the torus not 

 elongated. Styles distinct from the base. 



3, CERASTIUM, Linn. 



Sepals 5, rarely 4. Petals as many, usually notehed or 2-cleft. Stamens 

 10 or fewer. Styles 5 or 4, opposite the sepals, or rarely 3. Capsule 

 cylindrical or conical, often incurved, opening at the top in twice as many 

 teeth as styles, all equal. Seeds more or less reniform. — Herbs, usually 

 pubescent or hirsute. Leaves rarely subulate. Cymes tenninal, dichotouious, 

 leafy, or the floral leaves reduced to small or scarious bracts. Seeds usually 

 pitted or muricate. 



A considerable genus, distributed chiefly over the temperate regions of the northern hemi- 

 sphere, more especially in the Old ^Vorld, rare within the tropics except in niountaiu 

 regions. The Australian species is not endemic and perhaps introduced only. 



1. C. vulgatum, Limu; DC. Prod, i. 415. A coarsely pubescent 

 usually more or less viscid annual, branching at the base, sometimes dwarf, 

 erect, and much branched, at others loosely ascending to 1 foot or even 2 ftet, 

 occasionally forming at the end of the season dense matted tufts, which may 

 live through the winter, and give it the appearance of a perennial. Kadical 

 leaves small atld petiolate ; stem leaves sessile, from broadly ovate to narrow 

 oblong. Sepals 2 to 2\ lines long, green and pubescent, but with more or 

 less conspicuous scarious margins. Petals seldom exceeding the calyx, and 

 often much shorter, sometimes very minute, or even none. Stamens often 

 reduced to 5 or fewer. Capsule cylindrical, often curved and projectuig 

 beyond the calyx. — Eeichb. Ic. PL Germ. v. t. 228, 229 ; G. viscomm, Linn-; 



DC. I.e. 416. 



Qaeensland. Near Brishnne, TIennc, 



N. S. Wales. Port Jackson and Paramatta, but in the former case introduced, 

 J2. Brown; Clarence river, Beckler ; Twofold Bay, F, Mueller, 



Victoria, Common about Melbourne, also oa the Murray, F. Mueller ; Wimmera 

 river, Dallachy. 



Tasmania. Widely diffused even In almost inaccessible places, as among rocks, on the 

 North Esk river, Gann, J. D, Llooker. 

 8. Australia. In ffood soils, Behr. 



