36 III. CEUCIFEEAE. [Lepidium. 



* L. campestre, R. Br. in Ait. Sort. Kew. ed. 2, iv. 88. Stems erect, pubes- 

 cent, simple or branched from the base. Eadical leaves oblong, narrowed into the 

 petiole, entire or pinnatifid ; cauline lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, auricled and 

 clasping, toothed or rarely entire. Eacemes terminal. .Flowers small. Pedicels 

 spreading. Pods broadly ovate, papillose, winged, notched at the apex ; style scarcely 

 exceeding the notch. Anthers usually yellow. 



NORTH and SOUTH Islands: Sparingly naturalised in cornfields and waste places, &o. 

 Europe. 



"L. hirtum, Sm. Comp. Br. Fl. ed. 3, 98. Similar to L. campestre, but more 

 robust, frequently branched from the base, diffuse, pubescent or rarely villous. 

 Leaves broader. Pod ovate, glabrous, notched or entire, winged above ; style long. 

 Seeds small. Anthers violet. 



NORTH and SOUTH Islands: Sparingly naturalised in cornfields, &o., roadsides, but rare 

 and local. Plentiful at Bendigo, Otago. Dec, Jan. West Europe. 



5. L. Matau, Peirie in Trans. N.Z.I, xix. (1886) 323. A small erect 

 dioecious apetalous herb, grey with hispid hairs. Stems lin.— 3in. high. Radical 

 leaves coriaceous, scabrid^ lin.-l^in. long, narrow-oblong, pinnate or pinnatifid; 

 segments rarely incised, rounded or oblong ; rhachis broad and fiat. Cauline 

 leaves few, oblong or ovate, entire, sessile ; branches spreading. Racemes short, 

 pedicel spreading. Male flowers : Sepals pilose, whitish ; stamens 4. Female : 

 Pedicels patent or decurved. Pod ovate^ narrowed below, refuse; style exceed- 

 ing the notch, very short. Seeds ovate, yellow, excessively mucilaginous. 



SOUTH Island : Otago : Alexandra South, Petrie ! 



A remarkable species, easily recognised by its greyish aspect, strict habit, scabrid coriaceous 

 leaves, and apetalous dioecious flowers. 



6. L. Kawarau, Petrie in Tram. N.Z.I, xvii. (1884) 270. Dioecious, 

 erect, 6in.— 12in. high, somewhat spreading, glabrous or with few white simple 

 or 2-fid hairs. Radical leaves oblong, 3in.-5in. long, with sheathing petioles, 

 pinnate ; rhachis broad, flattened ; leaflets linear, entire or once or twice pinnati- 

 fid. Cauline smaller, uppermost narrow-linear, entire. Racemes forming a 

 much-branched subcorymbose panicle. Flowers on slender ascending pedicels. 

 Male : Sepals with membranous margins, lateral sepals narrow ; petals ; 

 stamens 4. Female : Anthers or abortive ; petals 0. Pods oblong-ovate, 

 truncate and notched at the apex, stigma slightly exceeding the notch. Seeds 

 oblong, brown. 



SOUTH Island : Otago : Kawarau River, Nevis Blufi, Cromwell, Petrie ! 



Mr. Petrie describes the male flower as having; i small petals and the female as usually 

 apetalous. I am unable to find any trace of petals in either. 



? Var. dubium. Erect, very leafy, scabrid, l£t. high or more, sparingly branched above ; 

 the branches short, or long and spreading. Radical leaves similar to those of the type or more 

 divided ; cauline shorter, sessile on broad bases, pinnatifidly toothed. Racemes lax ; pedicels 

 patent. Stamens 4-6. Petals 2-4, narrow. Pods oblong-ovate. Seeds broadly oblong, brown. 

 Otago : Earthquakes near Duntroon, Petrie ! My specimens are in very poor condition ; better 

 material might render it necessary to raise this puzzling plant to specific rank. 



*L. ruderale, Sp. PI. 645. Annual. Erect or suberect, slender, much 

 branched, 1ft. -lift, high, glabrous. ^ Lower leaves 2-pinnatifid, segments ' linear ; 

 upper entire or lobed. Racemes terminal. Flowers minute. Petals 0. Stamens 2. 



