The common Chickweed, {Stella ria media) aud Spurrey, {Spergula arreiisis), used as 

 fodder for sheep, arc other examples. There are aljorit sixty genera, and one thousand 

 one hundred species. The plants of this order are usually insipid. In New Zealand the 

 order is represented by : — Tribe 1, Silene.15, sepals connate into a tubular calyx ; 

 Genus 1, GypsophUa. Tribe 2, Axsine.e, sepals free ; Genus 2, Stellaria ; 3, Coloban- 

 thiis ; 4, Spergula ria. There are several Caryo phylleous weeds introduced into New 

 Zealand, especially from Europe ; the principal of which are Polycarpon tetraphijlhini, 

 a small tufted annual, with minute green flowers ; Cerastium, a genus of very common, 

 erect or straggling, hairy weeds, with white flowers ; and Spergula arreiisis, an annual 

 bearing whorls of linear leaves, and cymes of white flowers. 



GENUS I. 

 GYPSOPHILA (Liin/.) The Gypsophila. 



G-BNEHIC Chakactee. — Annual (or perennial) herbs, 

 with small paniculate flowers. Calyx more or less eampanulate, 

 5-fid, usually 5-nerve(l. Petals 5, with a narrow claw, and 

 entire or emarginate blade. Stamens 10, at the base of a 



small torus. Orary, niany-OTuled. Styles 2. Capsules ovoid 

 or globose, 4-5-Talved. Seeds laterally attached. — Randbook 

 of New Zealand Flora, p. 32. 



Description, etc. — A large South European genus of annual or perennial evergreen 

 herbaceous plants, belonging to the Alsiueous division of the order. The species, Avhich 

 are numerous, have leaves like those of the Pink ; and small white or pink floAvcrs, 

 which are usually disposed in diffused panicles. They inhabit various parts of Europe 

 and Asia, growing mostly in rocky or stony places, especially in a limestone soil. Some 

 of them are occasionally cultivated as border plants, and on rockeries. It is represented 

 in the Southern Hemisphere by only one species ; and this is indigenous to New Zealand. 

 The name of this genus is due to its plants delighting to grow in a soil composed largely 

 of gypsum. 



1. GYPSOPHILA TUBULOSA {Boiss.) The Tubular Gypsophila. 



Specific Character. — A small, much dichotomously- 

 branched, glandular-pubescent annual, 4-5 in. high; stems 

 slender, terete, erect. Leaves subulate, hardly acute, rigid. 

 Peduncles slender, axillary; 1-flowercd, i-l in. long, diverging 

 in fruit. Flowers, small ^ in. long. Calyx, tubular-camp- 



anulate, with 5 green ribs, 5-toothed. Petals narrow, linear, 

 refuse or bifid, longer than the calyx. Capsule, 5-valved at 

 the tip, exserted. Seeds transversely rugose, with deep im- 

 pressions. — Handbook of New Zealand Mora, p. 33. 



Description, etc. — This herb is common to both Islands, in many places, and is 

 fovmd growing from sea level up to a height of 4,000 feet. It is not uncommon in 

 South Australia. It is believed to be an importation ; Avas originally described from 

 Asia Minor, and is found noAvhere but in that country, Australia, and New Zealand. 

 Later observations are tending to prove, owing to the rapid increase of the plants in 

 various parts of New Zealand, that it is an introduction. 



