PLATE 18.—STELLARIA ROUGHII. 
Famity CARYOPHYLLACE/. | [Genus STELLARIA, Linn. 
Stellaria Roughii, Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 23 Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. 64. 
The shingle-slopes so well developed on the sides of the higher mountains of 
New Zealand support a scanty vegetation composed of plants with very diversified 
relationships, but all agreeing in their comparatively small size, and in their 
possession of roots or rhizomes apparently altogether out of proportion to their 
short stems and depressed habit. Of these plants, Stellaria Roughii, the subject 
of this plate, may be considered to be a good typical example. It was first dis- 
covered by Captain Rough on Dun Mountain, near Nelson, but was soon observed 
by Sir D. Monro, Mr. W. T. L. Travers, and other botanists on most of the higher 
mountains of the Nelson Provincial District. It has also been gathered by myself 
in the Upper Clarence Valley, and on the mountains near Lake Tennyson, from 
whence it stretches southwards to Mount Torlesse and the basin of the Waimakariri. 
I am not aware of any locality in southern Canterbury or Otago; but it has been 
lately discovered by Mr. Crosby Smith on the Takitimo Ranges, Southland. Its 
altitudinal range is from 2,500 ft. to 6,000 ft. 
Stellaria Roughii is a most distinct species. It has a very peculiar fleshy 
glaucous habit, and is remarkable for its large green flowers, the sepals being 
unusually long and consequently concealing the short white petals. Another note- 
worthy character is the long papille which cover the seeds. It is altogether 
unlike any of the remaining New Zealand species, and I am not aware that it has 
any near allies in Australia or South America. 
Pate 18. Stellaria Roughii, drawn from specimens collected on the Black Range, Canterbury 
Alps, at an elevation of 3,500 ft. Fig. 1, flower, with two of the sepals removed to show the 
proportionately small petals; 2, a single petal; 3, stamens and ovary ; 4, section of ovary; 5, ripe 
capsule, showing dehiscence ; 6, seeds, showing the curious linear papilla. (All enlarged.) 
