MACLOSKIE : CARYOPHYLLACE^G. 39! 



In Colobanthtis the styles alternate with the sepals. Benth. & Hook, 

 represent it as having the valves oppositisepalous ; but Flora Antarctica 

 is different ; this is confirmed by Hatcher's specimen of C. billardieri and 

 by Eng. & Prantl, iii, ib, p. 78. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES. 

 A. Leaves small. 



b. Sepals ovate, obtuse. cherlerioides. 



b2. Sepals acute. lycopodioides. 

 Az. Leaves narrow-linear. 



b. Leaves pectinate. Sepals ovate, setulose. chubutensis. 



b2. Leaves spiny-tipped. Sepals acute. quitensis. 



A$. Leaves linear, obtuse or mucronate. Sepals ovate, obtuse. crassifolius. 

 A\. Leaves linear-subulate or linear-lanceolate, imbricate. Sepals lance-acuminate, subulatus. 



A$. Leaves thick, obtusely-acutish. Sepals lanceolate, acute. billardieri. 



I. COLOBANTHUS BILLARDIERI Fenzl. 



Stout, short stems, with thick, pallid leaves, "obtusely-acutish," about 

 15 mm. by 1.7 mm.; arid long, straight scapes. Sepals lanceolate, acute. 



(In Australia, New Zeal., Campbell's I., "banks near the sea." Pata- 

 gon., by Rio Coy and Cabo Negro; in fruit Dec. 17, 1896. Seeds crim- 

 son, smooth.) 



2. C. CHERLERIOIDES Hook. f. 



Densely cespitose, pulvinate, the branches fastigiate, leafy. Leaves 

 small, closely imbricate, short-ovate, subacute, coriaceous, united at base 

 into a broad sheath ; their margins subciliate. Peduncles very short. 

 Flowers 5-merous, sessile among the upper leaves. Sepals broad, ovate, 

 obtuse. Capsule cleft to the middle. 



(Chili, at great elevations.) Patagonia (?). 



3- C. CHUBUTENSIS Speg. 



Hirsute perennial, with robust, many-headed caudex. Leaves narrowly 

 linear, acutish, marginally pectinate-setose towards the base, elsewhere 

 having few appressed setulae. Scapes twice as long as the leaves, glab- 

 rous, few-leaved, corymbose. Sepals ovate, glabrous, marginally setulose ; 

 corollas violaceous, glabrous. Stamens 5-6. Capsule one third exsert. 

 Seeds wingless, shining, reticulately impressed. 



Chubut, in dry hills, near Cholila. 



