26 
VI. CARYOPHTLLEJE. 
[ Spergularia . 
herb, with perennial root, more or less pubescent with viscid down. Stems 
and branches terete, 1 in. to a span long. Leaves linear, -|-1 in. long, 
quite entire. Flowers numerous, axillary and terminal, on long, slender pe- 
duncles, J-l in. long, which are often patent or refiexed. Flowers very 
variable in size, ^ in. long. Sepals green with a white membranous 
border. Petals shorter than the sepals, sessile, often very pale. Stamens 
5. Seeds with a broad membranous wing. 
Common on the shore throughout the islands, Banks and Solander, etc. Also found 
tinder various forms in all temperate and many tropical localities. 
There are several Caryophylleous weeds introduced into New Zealand, especially from 
Europe, besides the S/ellaria media , mentioned under that genus ; the chief of these are : — 
Polycarpon tetraphyllum, Linn. A small, tufted annual, with opposite and 4-nate obovate 
or oblong leaves, small green flowers, 5 sepals, small entire petals, 3 stamens, a short 3-fid 
style, and 3-valved capsule. — Bay of Islands, Auckland, etc., introduced probably from Aus- 
tralia, where it is common, as it is in many other parts of the world. 
Cerastium. A genus of very common, erect or straggling, hairy European weeds, having 
small, ovate, oblong, or lanceolate leaves and white flowers, 5 sepals, 5 notched or 2-fid 
petals, 10 stamens, 5 styles, and a tubular membranous capsule, opening at the top by 10 
teeth ; two species C. viscosum, Linn., and C. glomeratum, are abundant weeds of cultivation. 
■ Spergula arvensis , Linn. An annual weed, with slender stems, bearing whorls of linear 
leaves and cymes of white flowers, 5 sepals petals and styles, 10 stamens and a 5-valved 
capsule. 
Order VII. POKTULACEiE. 
Herbs, usually glabrous, often succulent, with opposite (rarely alternate) 
exstipulate (rarely stipulate) leaves and hermaphrodite flowers. — Sepals 2 or 
3, imbricate. Petals 4 or 5, free or connate at the base, hypogynous, imbri- 
cated. Stamens 5 or fewer, often adnate to the base of the petals. Ovary 1- 
celled ; style more or less deeply 2-3-fid, the arms stigmatose on the 
inner face ; ovules several or many, in the base of the cell. Capsule mem- 
branous, with as many valves as styles, and one or many seeds. Seeds with 
a crustaceous testa, farinaceous albumen, and terete curved embryo. 
A considerable Order, most abundant in America. The typical genus Portulaca (culti- 
vated for salad) has a half-inferior ovary. 
Leaves opposite or in pairs. Stamens 5, opposite the petals. Capsule 3- 
or many-seeded ....1. Ci.aytonia. 
Leaves opposite. Stamens 3-5, opposite the petals. Capsule 1-3- 
seeded . . 2. Montia. 
Leaves densely imbricate. Stamens 5, alternate with petals . ; . „ 3. Hectoeella. 
1. CLAYTONIA, Linn. 
Herbs with opposite alternate or fasciculate leaves, and racemose or soli- 
tary flowers. — Sepals 2, herbaceous. Petals 5, united at the very base, or 
free. Stamens 5, adnate to and opposite to the petals. Ovary many-ovuled. 
Capsule 3-valved, 3- or more seeded. 
A large North American genus, of which the following is the only Old World or south 
hemisphere species, abounding in temperate Australia. 
1. C. australasica, Kook. f. ; — FI. N. Z. i. 73. A glabrous, slender. 
