44 



THE ART ALBUM OF NEW ZEALAND FLORA. 



was named in liononr of Dr. John Clayton, a botanist of repute, who collected the plants 

 for the "Flora Virginica" of Gronovius. Several species have been introduced into 

 British gardens from North America, and are plants of very elegant growth. 



1. CLAYTONIA AUSTKALASICA {Sook., F.) The Australian Claytonia. 



Specific Character. — A glabrous, slender, creeping, 

 ratlier succulent tender herb, extremely variable in size. 

 Leaves solitary or in distant pairs, narrow-linear, or linear- 

 spathulate, J-2 in. long, quite entire, pale green, obtuse, nerve- 



less, tlie petioles dilating into membranous stipules at tlie base. 

 Scapes axillary, solitary, l-flowered, erect, usually shorter than 

 the leaves. Flowers pure white, very variable in size, i-| in. 

 diameter. llandhooJc of yew Zealand FJora^ p. 27. 



Description, etc., Kg. 9, Plate No. 6. — This beautiful little slender herb is indi- 

 genous to the Middle Island ; it is found in boggy jilaces, and ascends the Southern 

 Aljis to a height of 5,000 feet. In j^roijortion to the size of the plant, the flowers may 

 be considered large and handsome. Of the order, this genus is the only one which 

 contains ornamental perennial plants. Many of these are in cultivation in Britain, 

 having been introduced from North America in the year 1768. 



GENUS II. 

 MONTIA {Linn) The Montia. 



Generic Character. — A small annual, branched or 

 simple, usually tufted, glabrous herb, with opposite rather 

 fleshy, spathulate leaves, and small white, axillary, peduncled 

 flowers. Sepals 2, (rarely 3.) Petals 5, connate at the base. 



Stamens usually 3 or 5, opposite the petals, and adnate to them. 

 Ovary and capsule as in Cfat/fonia, but only 1-3 seeded. — 

 RandhooJc of New Zealand Flora., p. 27. 



Descriptiox, etc. — A British genus found in many parts of the North and South 

 temperate zone. M. fonfana, or " "Water Chickweed," is a common minute aquatic, 

 growing on the banks of streams, and has, like many other aquatic plants, a wide geo- 

 graphical range. 



1. ]\IONTIA FONTANA (Zhm.) The Water Chickweed, or Water Blink. 



SPECiric Character. — A glabrous, slender, branching, 

 weak, bright green marsh or water plant, very variable in size. 

 Stems 1-12 in. high. Leaves i-1 in. long, from elliptical-ovate 



to linear-lanceolate, sub-acute, quite entire. Flowers about 

 s in. broad. — Handbook of JS'ew Zealand Flora, p. 27. 



Description, etc. — This minute aquatic is common in watery places throughout the 

 alpine jiarts of the Northern and the Middle Islands, and in Campbell Island ; it is 

 also found in Tasmania, Kerguelen Land, and throughout temijerate North and South 

 America, and Europe. 



