68 CARYOPHYLLEZ. [Colobanthus. 
? var. strictus, Cheesem.—Larger, sometimes forming patches 2 in. diam. 
Leaves strict, erect, often more than lin. long. Peduncles equalling or exceed- 
ing the leaves. Sepals ovate-lanceolate, narrowed into long acicular points, 
nearly half as long again as the capsule. 
?var. multicaulis, Kirk, Students’ Fl. 61. — Rigid, much branched, 
branches naked below. Leaves rather lax, spreading, linear-subulate, + in. long. 
Peduncles about as long as the leaves. Sepals narrow-ovate, acute or mucronate, 
equalling the capsule. 
NortH AND SoutH Isnanps, STEWART ISLAND, CHATHAM IsLAND: The 
typical form not uncommon from the Kast Cape southwards, usually on clifis 
or shingly beaches. Var. strictws: Mountains of Canterbury and Otago, 
T. F.C., Petrie! Var. multicaulis : Interior of Otago, Buchanan ! 
A puzzling plant. As characterized above, it is distinguished from C. Billar- 
diert by the rigid habit, harsh often cartilaginous leaves, and especially by the 
rigid acicular sepals, which are much longer than the capsule. The two 
varieties, when better known, may prove distinct. 
5. C. brevisepalus, 7. Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxyii. (1895) 
357, t. 27H.—A small densely tufted much-branched plant, forming 
compact rounded cushions 1-2in. diam. Leaves densely imbri- 
cated, straight or curved, smooth and shining, $-4in. long, base 
broad and membranous, sheathing the stem, suddenly narrowed 
into the upper part, which is subulate, concave above, convex 
below, obtuse and almost tumid at the tip, abruptly produced into 
a short acicular point. Flowers terminal, sunk amongst the leaves. 
Sepals 5, ovate-subulate, convex or almost keeled, equalling or 
slightly longer than the oblong capsule.—Students’ Fl. 61. 
Souty Isuanp: Marlborough—Mount Mowatt, Kirk! Canterbury—Moun- 
tains near Lake Tekapo, 7. #.C. Otago—Kurow, Speargrass Flat, Cromwell, 
Queenstown, &c., Petrie ! Ascends to nearly 6000 ft. 
This appears to be a well-marked form, recognised without any difficulty by 
the short densely imbricated leaves with obtuse tips furnished with a fine hair- 
point. 
6. C. Benthamianus, Fenzl in Ann. Wien Mus. 1. 49. — A 
small densely tufted moss-like plant, forming small rounded 
patches about lin. high. Leaves densely imbricated, 4-+in. long, 
subulate, strict and rigid, tapering from the base to a shortly 
acicular apex, channelled above, convex below, sometimes with a 
groove between the margin and midrib. Peduncles short; flowers 
slightly exceeding the uppermost leaves. Sepals 5, ovate-subulate, 
thickened at the base, acute or very shortly mucronate, equalling or 
very slightly exceeding the capsule.—Kirk, Students’ Fl. 61. C. 
subulatus, Hook. f. Fl. Antarct. i. 13 and ii. 247, t. 93; Handb. 
N.Z. Fl. 25; Benth. Fl. Austral. i. 160. 
SourH Is~anp: ‘‘ Awatere Valley, and rocky places, Sinclair Range, 
alt. 4000 ft., Sinclair and Haast; Otago— Lake District, Hector and 
Buchanan.” CAMPBELL IstanD: Hooker, Kirk! Also found in Victoria and 
antarctic America. 
