t 



r 



) 

 1 



f 



i 



/ 



/ 



Brymaria.] XVI. caryophyllk.^:. 163 



oblong-linear stigmatic brandies. Capsule cylindrical, from half as long again 

 to twice as long as the calyx, opening in 3 valves, which soon split into twice 

 that number. 



W. Australia, Drummond, v, 694, 



This is a very distinct plant, with something of the habit of a MoUuqo, and the in- 

 norescence of Gypsophifa tuhulosa. The structure is that of Bnjmana, and in that 

 genus it approaches nearest to D. efftisa and D. tcneUa, A. Gr., from New Mexico, 

 navmir similar narrow leaves without stipules; hut the skuder pedicels and cylindrical cap- 

 sule distinguish it at once. i . i 



9. POLYCAEPON, Linn. 



oepals 5, keeled, scarious on the margin. Petals 5, small, entire or notched, 

 fetamens 3 to 5. Style short, 3-cleft. Capsule 3.valved. Seeds laterally 

 attached near the base ; embryo excentricab curved or nearly straight, the 

 cotyledons incumbent or oblique. — Herbs either diffuse or dichotomously 

 ^ranched, glabrous or pubescent. Leaves flat, usually ovate or oblong, often 

 ''Apparently, but not really, in whorls of 4. Stipules scarious. Flowers small, 

 numerous, in terminal cymes, Math scarious bracts. 



A genus of very few species, dispersed over the temperate and tropical regions of the 

 g obe. The Australian species is identical with the commonest northern one. 



l- P. tetraphyllum, Linn,/.; DC, Frod. iii. 370. A glabrous, much 

 ^ranched, spreading or prostrate annual, seldom more than 3 or 4 in. long, 

 ■ycaves obovate or oblong, really opposite, but placed as they usually are un- 

 ci the forks, two pairs are so close together as to assume the appearance of 

 a whorl of 4, Flowers very small and numerous, in loose terminal cymes, 

 epals barely 1 line long/ Petals much shorter and vcrv thin. Stamens 



usually 3.~F. MuelL Pi. Vict. i. 205. 



1^: ^- Wales. Port Jackson, E, Browif, and others. - ' 



Victoria. In light soil, widely dispersed over the colony, F. Mueller, 



Tasmania. Perhaps introduced, Gumu 



^ Australia. Near Adelaide, Herh, Mueller, 



w . Australia^ Bnimmond and others. 



\ery common in sandy situations, chiefly not far from^the sea, in Europe, temperate Asia, 

 ."le greater part of Africa, and in many parts of Norlli and South America; hut unknown 

 '^ tropical or suhtrojiical Asia. 



a /'f ^'^^^^'^^^^'"". ^^' Prod. iii. 370, a maritime variety, with thicker succulent leaves 



na often, hut not always, 5 stamens, uot uncommon in the Mediterranean region, is given 



f» Australian on the euthority of Siehcr's specimens, n. 57^, which I liave not seen, nor 



J\^,-^ ™«t with the variety in any Australian collection. All the Port Jackson specimens 



" I have seen, although maritime, are thin-loaved and 3-androus. 



S 



10. POLYCAEPiEA, Lour. 



(Aylmeria, Mart.) 



Sepals 5, either entirely scarious, or herbaceous in the centre and scarious 



^ the margin, but not keeled. Petals 5, entire or toothed. Stamens 5, hy- 



P^g}nous or slightly perigynons, free or united with the petals in a ring or 



^^^^ Style elongated, 3-farrowed, 3-toothed, or shortly 3-lobed at the top. 



^psule 3-valved. Seeds obovoid or flattened; embryo cm'ved or nearly 



^aight; cotyledons usually (perhaps always) accumbent. — Annual or pereu- 



M 2 



