Elatinee. | FLORA OF NEW ZEALAND. 27 
Gen. III. COLOBANTHUS, Fenzl. 
Sepala 4-5, coriacea, ovata, v. subulata. Petala 0. Stamina 4-5, filamentis basi in annulum 
perigynum coalitis. Styli 4-5. Capsula 4-5-locularis, polysperma; valvis staminibus oppositis. 
Rigid or succulent, generally densely tufted, smooth herbs, with short, usually subulate or grassy leaves, and 
rather large but inconspicuous solitary flowers, on terminal peduncles. It differs from Stellaria in habit, in the 
want of petals, in its usually having four sepals, few stamens, and four- to five-valved capsules; but is very nearly 
allied to the European genus Sagina. The species are all natives of the Southern hemisphere, and are chiefly in- 
sular. (Name from koAoßoo, to mutilate, and avdos, a flower, the latter wanting petals.) 
1. Colobanthus Billardieri, Fenzl.; acaulis, ceespitosus, foliis gramineis rigidis curvis setaceo-elongatis 
trigonis superne canaliculatis basi late vaginatis, pedunculis elongatis folio longioribus abbreviatisve, 
floribus 5-meris. Fenzl. Ann. Vien. Mus. v. 1. p. 48. Fl. Antarct. v. 1. p. 14. Spergula apetala, Labill. 
Fl. Nov. Holl. Stellaria uniflora, Banks et Sol. Ic. et MSS. 
Has. Northern Island; east coast, Banks and Solander, Colenso. Middle Island; Port Cooper, 
Lyall. Fl. December. 
Stems very short, numerous, tufted. Zeades grassy, but rigid, 3-13 inch long, broadly sheathing at the base. 
Peduncles generally as long or longer than the leaves, thickened beneath the flower, which is erect, 14 line long, with 
five subulate, pointed, ovate, erect, coriaceous, green sepals, and as many stamens, styles, and valves to the capsule. — 
This is a rather common Tasmanian plant, and is found in Campbell Island also. 
Nar. On». VIII. ELATIN EAS. 
Gen. I. ELATINE, Linn. 
Sepala 2-5. Petala 2-5, imbricata. Stamina hypogyna. Ovarium depressum, 1-5-loculare v. septis 
evanidis l-loculare. Ovuda plurima, placentis axillaribus affixa; stylis brevibus. Capsula membranacea, 
septifraga. Semina plurima, anatropa, oblongo-cylindracea, longitudinaliter striata et transverse rugosa. 
The only New Zealand species is a very inconspicuous marsh-plant, apparently identical with a North 
American, Australian, and Tasmanian species. —Sšems herbaceous, an inch or two long, succulent, branched, 
creeping. Leaves opposite, spathulate or obovate-oblong, blunt, entire. Flowers sessile, axillary. Calyx persis- 
tent, three- to four-cleft, or of as many sepals. Petals three to four. Stamens two to four. Capsule membranous, 
three- to four-celled, with often evanescent dissepiments, or one-celled, three- to four-valved. Seeds cylindrical, 
furrowed and transversely striated. (Name of doubtful origin ;—was applied to a corn plant by the Greeks.) 
1. Elatine Americana, Arn.; pusilla, repens, glaberrima, caule crassiusculo, foliis oppositis obovato- 
oblongis obtusis brevissime petiolatis, floribus axillaribus sessilibus 3-meris, capsula septifrage 3-valvi, 
dissepimentis evanidis, seminibus lente curvatis. Arnott, Ed. Journ. Nat. Sc. v. 1. p. 430. Torrey et Gray, 
Fl. N. Am. E. gratioloides, 4. Cunn. Prodr. 
Haz. Northern Island; bogs at Hokianga, A. Cunningham. 
I have seen no specimens but Cunningham's, though Mr. Colenso says it is common, and probably overlooked. 
lt appears the same as a Tasmanian plant also found at Swan River; nor can I distinguish either from the common 
North American Æ. Americana, which has two or three stamens, and in which, as in this, the dissepiments are 
apparent in the ovary only. 
