) 



Slellaria.'] xvi. caryophyllevE. 159 



as 



N, S. M^ales. Shoal Spit Reach, R. Broicn ; Hastings river, Beckler, 

 Victoria. Shady huinicl places, forest lauds, aud gravelly hanks of rivers, from the 

 lowlands to the highest Alps, F. Mueller, 



Tasmania. Dense thickets and shady places, J. D. HooJcer ; Port Daliymple, R, 

 Broivn, 



T cannot agree in considering this a variety of 5'. media. Besides the difference in hahit, 

 in the shape of the leaves and sepals, and in the inflorescence, the hairs, when present, are 

 long cilia on the edges and nerves of the leaves and sepals, or on the angles of the hranches, 

 without any trace of the unilateral puhcsccnce hetvveen two angles so constant in S, media, 



*4. S. nxediay Lhin. DC, Prod. i. 396. A weak, mucli-branclied annual, 

 glabrous with the exception of a pubescent line down one side of each inter- 

 node, and a few long hairs on the petioles, and sometimes on tlie sepals. 

 Leaves ovate, shortly pointed, the lowest on long petioles, short and broad, 

 and sometimes cordate, the upper ones on shorter petioles or quite sessile, \ 

 to f in. long, thin and flaccid. Pedicels slender, often drooping, in the forks 

 of the branches, the upper ones usually forming a rather dense leafy cyme, 

 very rarely one of the lowest axillary from the abortion of one fork. Sepals 

 about 2 lines long, obtuse or rarely rather acute, thin but green, with scarcely 

 prominent nerves, and usually pubescent. Petals about as long, deeply cleft. 

 Capsule scarcely longer than the calyx. — Eeichb. Ic. PI. Germ. v. t. 222. 



Originating, probal)ly, in the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere in the Old 



}Vorkl, this plant is now a commoa weed in cultivated places, especially gardens, as well 



311 ^vaste places, almost all over the globe, and as such is found in most of the Anstralian 



colonies, especially Victoria, F, Mueller, and W. Australia, about Swan River, Lrummond, 

 n. 244. 



5. S. m\dtifLora,y Rook. i7iComp.BoL Ma ff. 121 5. A slender, glabrous, 

 branching annual, with decumbent or erect stems, usually under 6 in. Leaves 

 sessile, or the lowest petiolate, mostly lanceolate, 2 to 3, or rarely 4 lines long, 

 the upper ones very small. Pedicels axillary, sometimes all sliorter than the 

 cnlyx, in other specimens all filiform but rigid, 3 to 6 lines long. Sepals 

 ^iiceolate, veiy acute, about 2 lines long, 3-nerved or strongly 1-nerved. 

 -Petals none. Stamens short, those alternating with the sepals often rudi- 

 mentary or wanting. Capsule as long as or lonirer than the sepals. Seed 

 tuberculate.— Hook. f. Fl. Tasm. i. 43 ; P. Muell. PI. Yict. i. 212. 



. Victoria. Sandy, grassy, and rocky loealities, not uncommou as well in the lowlands 

 as m the mountain regions, ascending to the ^\\^^, F. Mueller, 



Tasmania. On grassy dry pastures and rocks, etc., comtnoTi, /. D, Hooker. 



S. Australia. Distributed over the southern and eastern parts of the colony, F. 

 Mueller, Remarkably luxuriant specimens from Kivoli Bay considerably exceed a ft, m 



^V. Australia, Brummond, n. 695. 



Arenaria serpiflU folia, Linn.; DC. Prod. i. 411. A verj' much branched, slender, and 

 Slightly pubescent annual, seldom attainini,^ 6 in. Lea\xs very small, ovate, and pomted. 

 Pedicels from the upper axils or forks, 2 to 3 lines long, and slender. Sepals d, acute, 

 about li lines long. Petals usiuilly much shorter, white, obovate, entire. Stamens lU. 

 Styles 3. Capsule short, opening in 6 narrow valves. . 



(-^omnion in Europe and temperate Asia, on walls and muddy, stony, or waste places. 

 find now almost natiu-aliztd in several of the Australian colonies. 



5. SAGINA, Linn. 

 Sepals 4 or 5. Petals as many, entire or scarcely notched, or none. Sta- 



3 



