GunniancB. N, O. Portulaceae 



TAB. CCXCIII. 



Clavtonia Australasica. J. HooL 



Caespitosa, foliis elongato-linearibus subspathulatis, pedunculis 



l-bifloris, petalis obovatis calycem quadruplo superantibus. 

 Hab. Sidmouth and Emu Plains, on the road to Bathurst, 

 New Holland (an aquatic). Allan Cunningham^ Esq.^ in Herb, 

 nostr. Wet places, Circular Head, and Hampshire hills, Van 

 Dieman's Land, Ronald GunUy Esq. (n. 160.) 

 This plant is somewhat succulent and so delicate, that it is 

 difficult to distinguish the exact structure of the flowers and 

 the fruit. There can, I think, be no doubt of its being a true 

 Claytonia^ very different from any hitherto described, and, as far 

 as I can distinguish, the first species that has been detected in 

 Australia, or even in the southern hemisphere. The plant varies 

 much in size, from 1 to 6 or 8 inches in height, generally grow- 

 ing in rather dense tufts, sometimes more straggling, and then 

 the stems are creeping. Leaves from 2 to 4 or 5 inches long, 

 generally alternate. Flowers large (for the genus), pure white. 

 Capsule globose, mucronate, included in the persistent 2-leaved 

 calyx. Capsule 3-valved. Seeds large, about 3. 



* 



Fig. 1, Flower. /. 2. Petal and stamen. /. 3. Pistil. /. 4. 

 Fruit. / 5 Capsule, burst open. / 6. Seed ; — magnified. 



