536 OXALIDACEAE. [Oxalis. 
9. O. stricta Linn. Sp. Plant. (1753) 485.—Stem erect, much and 
diffusely branched below or even prostrate at the base, 4-12 in. high, 
subglabrous or slightly pubescent with appressed hairs. Leaves _pale- 
green, very similar to those of O. cormiculata but rather larger; stipules 
wanting. Peduncles slender, 3-6 in. long, 3-8-flowered, spreading in fruit. 
Capsules usually glabrous, large, $-lin. long. Seeds numerous.—O. ambigua 
A. Rich. Fl. Nouv. Zel. (1832) 296. O. Urvillei, O. propinqua, O. divergens, 
O. lacicola, A. Cunn. Precur. (1839) 584, 586, 588, 590. O. corniculata 
var. stricta Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i (1853) 42; Handb. N.Z. Fi. (1864), 38 ; 
Benth. Fl. Austral. i (1863) 301; TZ. Kirk Students’ Fl. (1899) 83; Cheesem. 
Man. N.Z. Fl. (1906) 92. 
Nortru anp Sourn Istanps: Not uncommon throughout in lowland districts. 
In the first edition of this work I included this with O. corniculata, in agreement 
with the views of Hooker and Bentham, but now most botanists treat it as a distinct 
although closely allied species. It is best distinguished by the more erect habit, 
absence of stipules, and the more numerous flowers in the cymes. 
3. O. lactea Hook. Comp. Bot. Mag. i (1835) 276.—A small glabrous or 
pubescent almost stemless herb 2-4in, high; rootstock creeping, scaly. 
Leaves all radical, on long slender hairy petioles, trifoliolate ; leaflets 
obcordate, glabrous, glaucous beneath. Peduncles radical, long and slender, 
often exceeding the leaves, 2-bractiolate above the middle, 1-flowered. 
Flowers rather large, pure-white, 4-}in. diam. Sepals small, ovate, obtuse. 
Petals obovate or obcordate, often oblique. Capsule globose.—O. cataractae 
A. Cunn. Precur. (1839) n. 585; Hook. Ic. Plant. (1842) t. 418; Raoul 
Choix (1846) 47. O. magellanica Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. 1 (1853) 42, t. 13; 
Handb. N.Z. Fl. (1864) 38 (not of Forst. f. in Comm. Gotting. (1789) 33) ; 
Benth. Fl. Austral. i (1863) 300; T. Kirk Students’ Fl. (1899) 84; Cheesem. 
Man. N.Z. Fl. (1906) 92. 
Norru anp Souta Istanps: From Mangonui and Kaitaia southwards, in damp 
and shaded or subalpine places. Also in Australia and ‘Tasmania. Sea-level to 
fully 4000 ft. 
In the “ Flora Novae-Zelandiae ” Hooker identified this charming little plant with 
the South American O. magellanica ; and in this he has been followed by all subsequent 
botanists. But Dr. Skottsberg, in a memoir dealing with “The Relations between the 
Floras of Subantarctic America and New Zealand,” points out that the New Zealand 
plant differs from the Fuegian in the flowers being double the size, in the longer 
pedicels, and in the distinctly obcordate leaves with a narrow base. Influenced by 
these differences, he has taken up the name of O. lactea Hook., being the one first 
applied to the Australian and New Zealand species. As the plant appears worthy of 
specific distinction I have adopted the name in this place. 
Family LIV. LINACEAE. 
Herbs or shrubs, rarely trees. Leaves alternate, simple, usually entire ; 
stipules present or wanting. Flowers regular, hermaphrodite. Sepals 5, 
rarely 4, free or coherent at the base, imbricate. Petals the same number, 
hypogynous or slightly perigynous, imbricate, often contorted. Stamens 
as many as the petals or twice as many, rarely more; filaments united 
below into a ring which frequently has 5 small glands at the base ; anthers 
9-celled, versatile. Ovary free, entire, 3-5-celled ; styles the same number, 
distinct or more or less united ; ovules 1—2 in each cell, pendulous, ana- 
tropous. Fruit either a capsule splitting into 3-5 cocci, or more rarely a 
drupe. Seeds 1-2 in each cell; albumen fieshy or wanting ; embryo 
usually straight, radicle superior. | 
