166 * LTTHEAEIEAE. [Peplis. 



thickened upwards, jointed to the rhachis. Calyx with 5 minute deciduous 



teeth. Petals 5, often falling before expansion. Ovary wholly immersed in the 



calyx-tuhe, 2-celledj many-ovuled. Berry red, unequally ovoid, crowned with 



the thickened rim of the calyx, 1-celled ; seed solitary, large ; testa coriaceous 



or almost bony.— Fl. N.Z. i. 71 ; Handbk. 74; T. Kirk, Forest Fl. N.Z. t. 122. 



NORTH Island: in swampy places, Mangonui to Cook Strait, but often local. SOUTH 

 Island : Marlborough and Nelson, rare, /. Rutland ! Ascends to 1,300ft. Maire-tawhake. June, 

 July. 



Oedee— * LYTHEARIEAE. 



Calyx-tube inferior, 4-5-toothed, persistent, valvate in bud. Petals 4-5, in- 

 serted at the mouth of the tube, rarely 0. Stamens 4-14, inserted below the petals, 

 equal or unequal ; anthers versatile. Ovary superior, enclosed in the calyx-tube, 2 or 

 more celled, or 1-celled by absorption of the placentas ; style simple. Seeds anatro- 

 pous, without endosperm. Herbs, shrubs, or trees, usually with opposite entire 

 leaves and hermaphrodite axillary or whorled regular or irregular flowers, which are 

 sometimes di- or tri-morphic. 



* PEPLIS, Linn. 



Calyx campanulate ; teeth 12, 6 subulate, alternating with 6 broader erect 

 teeth. Petals 6, fugacious, or 0. Stamens 6-12, perigynous. Ovary 2-celled ; style 

 minute ; stigma capitate ; ovules numerous ; placentas attached to the septum. 

 Capsule 2-celled, 2-valved, many-seeded. Prostrate or suberect annuals. Leaves 

 alternate or opposite, exstipulate. Flowers minute. 



* P. Portula, L., Sp. PL 332. Stems brittle, lin.-6in. long, prostrate or ascend- 

 ing, creeping, angular. Leaves opposite, narrow-obovate, shortly stalked. Flowers 

 axillary, solitary, sessile. Calyx-tube very short, 12-ribbed. Capsule globose, 

 exceeding the calyx-tube. 



SOUTH Island : in damp places. Tuapeka, Tapanui, &c., Otago, Petrie ! Water-purslane. 

 Dec. to Feb. Europe, North Africa. 



*LYTHRUM, Linn. 

 Calyx tubular, striate ; teeth 8-12, 4-6 subulate, alternating with broader erect 

 teeth. Petals 4-6, minute, wrinkled in bud, rarely 0. Stamens as many or twice as 

 many as the petals, 1-2-seriate. Capsule 2-celled, 2-valved. Perennial or annual 

 herbs, with entire leaves and solitary or cymose flowers, which are often trimorphic. 

 Flowers minute. Calyx-tube strongly ribbed in fruit .. .. .. 1. L. HyssopifoUa. 



Flowers Jin.-Jin. in diameter, showy. Calyx-tube faintly ribbed in fruit . . 2. L. Graefferi, 



* L. HyssopifoUa, L., Sp. PL 447. Annual, 6in.-18in. high, branched, sub- 

 erect or procumbent. Leaves sessile, alternate, narrow-linear or oblong-lanceolate, 

 obtuse, cuneate at the base. Flowers minute, axillary, solitary. Calyx-tube with 2 

 minute subulate bracteoles. Petals small, pale-purple. Stamens 6, included. Calyx- 

 tube strongly ribbed in fruit. 



NORTH and SOUTH Islands : Bay of Islands to Otago: copiously naturalised in ditches and 

 watery places. Small loose-strife. Deo. to Feb. Europe. 



*L. Graefferi, Tenore, Prod. FL Nap. p. Ixviii. Annual. Stem 4in.-6in. 

 high, branched, very slender. Leaves alternate, narrow-Hnear-lanceolate or oblong, 

 acute. Flowers solitary, iin.-lin. in diameter, on short pedicels ; bracteoles minute. 

 Petals 5-6, obovate, purple, apiculate. Calyx-tube faintly ribbed in fruit. 



NORTH Island : naturalised in the Auckland District ; local, but increasing. Matakana 

 Jjower Waikato, &c. SOUTH Island ; near Greymouth, R. Helms t ' 



