422 CARYOPHYLLACEAE. [Stellaria. 
5. S. Roughii Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. (1864) 23.—An erect or straggling 
much-branched glabrous and succulent glaucous-green herb 2-6 in. high. 
Leaves 4-lin. long, linear, acuminate, fleshy, l-nerved. Flowers large, 
ereen, 4-2 in. long, }in. diam., on short stout terminal peduncles. Sepals 
very large, almost foliaceous, lanceolate, acuminate, with 3 stout nerves. 
Petals much shorter than the sepals, cleft almost to the base. Stamens 10. 
Styles 3. Capsule about 4 as long as the sepals, 6-valved to the base. 
Seeds 12-20, red-brown, covered with large projecting papillae—T. Kirk 
Students’ Fl. (1899) 58; Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. (1906) 64; Ill. N.Z. 
Fl. i (1914) t. 18. 
Souru IsLAND : Nelson—Dun Mountain, Rough / T. F.C. ; Wairau Gorge, W. 7. L. 
Travers ; Mount Captain, 7’. Kirk / Clarence Valley and Lake Tennyson, 7. 7’. C. Canter- 
bury—Mount Torlesse, Haast, Petrie, 7. F.C. ; Broken River and Upper Waimakariri, 
J. D. Enys! T. Kirk! T. F.C. Southland—Takitimo Mcuntains, Crosby Smith. 
' Altitudinal range 3000-6000 ft. December—February. 
A most distinct species. It has a very peculiar fleshy glaucous habit, and is 
remarkable for its large green flowers, the sepals being unusually long and consequently 
concealing the short white petals. It appears to be confined to bare shingle-siopes on 
the higher mountains. 
6. S. gracilenta Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. ii (1853) 326.—A loosely tufted 
rigid and wiry yellow-green herb 1-Sin. high; stems suberect, slightly 
scabrid, often matted and interlaced. Leaves opposite, glabrous, §-71n. 
long, linear-subulate, curved, concave above, smooth and convex below when 
moist, when dry grooved on each side of the stout midrib; tip rigid, terete, 
acute; margins thickened, slightly ciliate at the base, not revolute ; each 
stem-leaf with a small fascicle of leaves in its axil. Peduncles springing 
from the axils of the uppermost leaves, 1-3 in. long, solitary, strict, erect, 
1-flowered, 2-bracteolate about the middle. Flowers 4in. diam., greenish- 
white. Sepals oblong, acute, with broad membranous margins. Petals 5, 
rather longer than the sepals, 2-cleft almost to the base. Stamens 5-10. 
Styles 3. Capsule ovate-oblong, 6-valved ; seeds pale-brown, papillose.— 
Handb. N.Z. Fl. (1864) 24; T. Kirk Students’ Fl. (1899) 58; Cheesem. Man. 
N.Z. Fl. (1906) 65; TU. N.Z. Fl. i (1914) t. 19. 
> 2 
Sourn Istanp: Not uncommon in mountain districts. ascending to 5000 ft. 
Descends to sea-level at the mouth of the Waitaki River. Novem ber—February. 
Easily recognized by the strict wiry habit, subulate leaves, and very long erect 
peduacles. 
3. COLOBANTHUS Bartling. 1S >. 
Small densely tufted usually rigid glabrous herbs. Leaves opposite, 
narrow-linear or subulate, usually imbricate, rigid, cartilaginous, rarely 
fleshy. Flowers green, solitary, on short or long peduncles. Sepals 4-5, 
coriaceous, erect. Petals wanting. Stamens 4-9, alternating with the 
sepals, slightly perigynous. Capsule ovoid or oblong, opening by as many 
valves as sepals. 
A gens of about 20 species, most numerous in New Zealand, but found also on 
the mountains of South America, in Australia and Tasmania, and in the Antarctic 
islands. Of the 11 species found in New Zealand, 2 are also found in South America, 
] is said to occur in Australia and Tasmania, and the remaining 8 are endemic. 
Colobanthus repens Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xix (1887) 261 and C. caespitotus Col. 
lc. xxvii (1895) 384 are respectively Sagina procumbens Linn. and 8. apetala Linn., as 
proved by the type specimens in Mr. Colenso’s herbarium. It is curious that such an 
