THE TASMANIAN FLOEA. 13 



An introduced weed that has spread with cultivation to nearly all parts of the 

 world. Fl. all summer. 



2. SAGINA. 

 8mall tufted herbs. Petals small or absent. Stamens usually as many as the 

 petals, 4 or 5. Capsule opening with as many valves as there are styles. 



S. PROCUMBENS, Z). C. A Small matted herb. Leaves linear, pointed. Flowers 

 solitary, on long fine stalks arising from the leaf axils. Sepals about 1 line long, 

 -oval. Petals either very small or absent. Sepals, petals, stamens, and styles 

 usually 4. Capsule rather longer than the sepals, splitting deeply into as many 

 valves as there are styles. S. apetala, Ard. 



Abundant. World-wide. Fl. from spring till autumn. 



3. COLOBANTHUS. 



Small tufted herbs, almost moss-like. Sepals 4 or 5. Petals absent. 

 Stamens and styles of the same number as the sepals. Capsule opening by the 

 same number of valves. 



C. BiLLAEDiiEi, Fenzl. A small, densely-tufted perennial. Leaves crowded, 

 linear, pointed, |-1 inch long. Flowers solitary, terminal, on stalks usually 

 longer than the leaves. Sepals 6, 2 lines long, finely pointed. Capsule ovoid, 

 .about the length of the calyx. 



Common in sandy coasts. Victoria. Fl. Nov. 



4. POLTOARPON. 



Leaves often nearly whorled. Sepals 5. Petals 5. Stamens 3-5. Style 

 ■very short, trifid, 



P. TBTEAPHTiiiiUM, D. C Small, prostrate, clustered, annual. Leaves obovate, 

 about 2 lines. Flowers very numerous, small, terminal. Sepals 1 line. Petals 

 shorter. Capsule opening in 3 valves. 



Yery common. Temperate regions throughout the world. Fl. Oct. 



5. SPERGULARIA. 

 Sepals 6. Petals 6t Stamens mostly 10. Styles 3, raj-ely more. 

 Speegulaeia bubea, Pers. Small, decumbent, tufted. Leaves linear, | inch, 

 with scarious stipules. Flowers few, stalked, axillary, pink or white. Petals 

 •oval, 1-3 lines long. 



Common. Most parts of the world. 



Var. marina. Larger and fleshy, leaves often 1-2 inches. Sea-coasts. 

 Fl. spring and summer. 



Speegula aevensis, Z). C. Slender. Leaves filiform, clustered, 1 

 inch. Flowers white on recurved stalks. Introduced. Common. 



Ceeastium glombeatum, Thu. Leaves broad, hairy. Flowers numer- 

 ous, terminal. Capsule protruding. Introduced. 



Oedee XIL—POBTULACAOEJE. 



Pistil of 3 blended carpels with a common ovarian cavity, in a few cases not 

 entirely free from the floral tube. Placenta centre. Ovules few. Sepals 2. 

 Petals 5 or more. 



Petals free. 



Stamens 5. Petals spreading ... 1. Claytonia, 



Stamens seldom 5. Petals usually remaining erect 2. Calandrinia. 



Petals united ... -3. Montia. 



