Cerastiim.'] xvi. caryopiiylle^. 157 



"W. Australia. Common alout Swan Elver, Bi'ummond, 1st Coll., 2nd ColL n. 69S, 

 Ca/L 1848, n. 107. 



Exceedingly common in the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere and now 

 natnralized in many parts of the globe. In Australia also it is evidently introduced in many 

 localities, but probably also indigenous. Krown, in 1802, distingnishcd as such his Para- 

 matta specimens from the evidently introduced ones of Port Jackson, and Gunn found it 

 abundant in Tasmania in localities where it was ditficult to believe it to be a foreign impor- 

 tation. The Australian varieties are some of those most conunon in Europe; the var. 

 glomeratmn, DC. 1. c, with broad orbicular leaves and compact inflorescence, most abundant 

 ni victoria and Tasmania, and the var. viscosuin, with oblong or narrow leaves aud loose 

 elongated cymes, in N. S. AY ales and AY. Australia ; but very many specimens are quite 

 mtermediate. The smaller forms, with 4-merous flowers or 5 or fewer stamens, are not 

 among the Australian specimens I have seen. 



4. STELLAEIA, Linn. 



Sepals 5, rarely 4. Petals as many, usually 2-cleft, rarely wanting. 

 Stamens 10 or fewer. Styles 3, rarely 2 or 4, or very rarely 5, and then 

 alternate with the sepals. Capsule globular, ovoid or oblonj^, opening to 

 below the middle in twice, as many valves as styles, or in an equal number of 

 2-cleft valves.— Herbs usually diffuse, tufted or ascending, glabrous or 

 pubescent. Leaves rarely subulate, Flowers solitary, or in loose leafless or 

 leafy cymes. Seeds usually pitted or niuricate. 



A considerable genus, spread over nearly the whole globe, althou^Lch within the tropics 

 confined to mountain distiicts. Of the S'Aiistralian species 3 are endemic, one, S. (/7auca, 

 although truly indigenous, is identical with a European species, the fifth, 5. media, is an in- 

 troduced weed. 



■Petals longer than or nearly as long as ihe sepals. 



Leaves mostly sessile, linear or lanceolate. Pedicels axillary. Peren- 

 nials. 



Leaves rigid and pungent, mostly linear-lanceolate, often recurved. 1. S. pnvgens. 



Leaves linear, slender 2. *y. glauca. 



Leaves mostly petiolate, ovate or ovate-lanceolate. Pedicels axillary. 



Perennialwithout any pubescent line 3. S,faccida. 



Leaves sessile or petio^late, broiullv ovate. Pedicels in the forks. 



Annual, with a pubescent line down each iuternode 4. S. media. 



mals none. Annual, with small sessile leaves 5. iS". midhflora. 



1. S. pungens, Brongn, Voy. Coq. L 78. Perennial and veiy mucli 

 branched, decumbent or ascendinL^ amongst bushes, often to 3 or 4 ft., with 



angular branches, smooth and shining, glabrous, or hirsute with loose 

 scattered hairs. Leaves lanceolate to linear, rigid and pungent, mostly 3 

 to -i lines long, and never exceeding ^ in., often spreading or recurved, all 

 sessile or scarcely narrowed at tlie base, the lower ones sometimes small and 

 crowded. Pedicels axillary, very variable in lenoih, but usually considerably 

 exceeding the leaves. Sepals rigid, pungent, about 3 lines long, the outer 

 f^nes prominently 3-nerved. Petals about as long or ratlier longer, deeply 

 eleft.^Hook. f. PL Tasm. i. 44.; P. Muell. PL Vict. i. ^09 ; S, sqiiarrom. 

 Hook. Journ. Bot. i. 250, 



, W. S. Wales. Blue ^^lountains and aajoiniug districts, A. Cunningham; Nor Eng- 

 1^^'id, a Stuart. 



Victoria. Roeky, stony, or sandy places, not nnfreqnent throughout the greater part 

 or the colony, ascending to the Australian Alps, but not eiteading into the desert, r. 

 ^'ueller. 



