382 DICOTYLEDONS AND CONIFERS 



Lychnis Githago, Scop. Corn-cockle 

 First recorded in 1869 by Kirk from Auckland district; and in 

 1871 by Armstrong in Canterbury. It is not uncommon in cultivated 

 fields in many parts of New Zealand, but nowhere seems to have 

 become a pest. (FL, Nov. to Dec.) 



Cerastium glomeratum, Thuill. Mouse-ear Chickweed 



First recorded in Hooker's list in 1 864 as C. vulgatum. An abundant 

 weed in every part of New Zealand. (FL, Sept. to April.) 



Cerastium triviale. Link. Larger Mouse-ear 



First recorded in 1864 in Hooker's list as C. viscosum. Equally 

 abundant with the preceding species throughout the country. Both 

 these species (as also Stellaria media) are characterised by a develop- 

 ment of strong tissue in the stem immediately above the root-attach- 

 ment, which often enables them to hold on to the soil, when all the 

 branches have been torn off. They then spring up again from the 

 root-stock. Visited (in Europe) by Lucilia cessar. (FL, Oct. to April.) 



Stellaria media, Linn. Chickweed 



Introduced at a very early date. First mentioned by Dieffenbach 

 in 1839. Most abundant weed of cultivation. (FL, nearly all the year 

 round.) 



Stellaria Holostea, Linn. Greater Stitch wort 



First recorded in 1871 by Armstrong from Canterbury Province. 



Stellaria graminea, Linn. Lesser Stitchwort 



First recorded in 1882 by Cheeseman as occurring near Auckland. 

 In the Manual (1906) it is said to occur in fields and on roadsides 

 in both islands, but not commonly. It is extraordinarily abundant 

 on Pine Hill near Dunedin, where, when in flower, it gives the fields 

 a greyish-white hue ; it has also spread into many other districts near 

 Dunedin. Visited (in Europe) by Eristalis tenax. (FL, Nov. to Jan.) 



Stellaria uliginosa, Murr. 



In the Manual (1906) this is reported from bogs near Westport 

 by Townson; and from Ruapuke Island in Foveaux Strait by Chas. 

 Traill. It only grows in moist ground in Britain. 



Arenaria serpyllifolia, Linn. Sandwort 



First recorded in Hooker's list in 1864. Stated in the Manual 

 (1906) to be "abundant in light dry soils." (FL, Nov. to Jan.) 



