418 PORTULACACEAE, [Claytonia. 
or in distant pairs, narrow-linear or linear-spathulate, obtuse, dilated into 
broad membranous sheaths at the base. Flowers large, 4-}1n. diam., 
white or rose, terminal or leaf-opposed, solitary or in tew-flowered lax 
racemes ; pedicels long, slender. Sepals small, broadly orbicular. Petals 
much longer, broad-obovate. Capsule globose, mucronate, usually slightly 
exceeding the sepals. Seeds generally 3, black, smooth and shining. — 
Fl. Nov. Zel. 1 (1853) 73; Handb. N.Z. Fl. (1864) 26; Benth. Fl. Austral. 1 
(1863) 177; Z. Kirk Students’ Fl. (1899) 65; Cheesem. Man. N.Z, FI. 
(1906) 71. 
Nortu IstAND: Common on the high mountains of the interior; from Mount 
Egmont and Ruapehu southwards, ascending to over 6500 it., 7. P. C. and many others. 
Sourn IsLANpD, Stewart Istanp: Common in mountain districts throughout, 
descending to sea-level in Otago and Stewart Island. An abundant plant in the 
mountains of south-eastern Australia and Tasmania. 
A variable plant. When growing in dry or exposed places it is often very small 
and densely tufted ; but in watery situations the stems lengthen out considerably and 
the leaves become longer. Mr. Buchanan (Trans. N.Z. Inst. iii (1871) 210) has 
described two varieties characterized by the peduncles in one being 2-flowered, and 
in the other racemose ; but I find the number of flowers to be very inconstant. 
2. MONTIA Linn. 
A small glabrous herb. Leaves opposite, slightly fleshy. Flowers 
small, axillary or shortly racemose. Sepals 2, ovate, persistent. Petals 5, 
united at the base into a 5-lobed corolla, split open on one side. Stamens 3, 
rarely 5, inserted on the petals. .Ovary free; ovules 3. Capsule globose, 
3-valved, 3-seeded. Seeds nearly orbicular. _ 
A monotypic genus, widely distributed in tN th and South Temperate Zones. 
. \ 
1. M. fontana Linn. Sp. Plant. (1753) 87.—A slender perfectly glabrous 
branching herb, forming dense tufts 1-5 in. high, sometimes longer 
and weaker when growing in water. Leaves opposite, }-1 in. long, linear- 
lanceolate or spathulate, acute or subacute, quite entire. Flowers minute, 
solitary or in 2-3-flowered racemes, drooping. Petals slightly longer than 
the sepals. Capsules small—2Hook. f. Fl. Antarct. i (1844) 18; Fl. Nov. 
Zel. i (1853) 74; Handb. N.Z. Fl. (1864) 27; T. Kirk Students’ Fl. (1899) 
65; Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. (1906) 72. 
Nortu anp Sours Ist.anps, Stewart Istanp, AUCKLAND, CAMPBELL, ANTIPODES, 
AND Macquarie Istanps: Abundant in watery places, trom Rotorua and Taranaki 
south wards. AV a rata * f 3 ? 
Herbs, 
the nodes 
united at 
hermaphrc | 
Petals 4-5 J. vwwasrvany-woseny; 1ypogynous” or rarely perigynous, entire 
or lobed. Stamens 8-10, rarely fewer, inserted with the petals. Ovary 
free, 1-celled or imperfectly 3-5-celled at the base; styles 2-5, free or 
more or less connate into a single style; ovules 2 to many, attached to 
a free central or basal placenta. Fruit usually capsular, splitting into as 
Deceit Remedy He. gate B97 sea’ BS 
Garrmreckoe Cal. ero PADAEAIAD Ka VV-D - 
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