1. P. aviculare, Linn. Sp. Plant. 362.—A glabrous rigid and wiry prostrate annual, much branched from the base; branches ½–2 ft. long, straggling, grooved, leafy throughout. Leaves scattered, sessile or shortly petioled, ⅓–1 in. long or more, linear-oblong to lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, rarely broader and elliptic-oblong, acute or obtuse, veins indistinct beneath, margins flat or recurved; stipules brown or reddish near the base, silvery-white above, scarious, lacerate to below the middle. Flowers small, 110–18 in. long, solitary or in clusters of 2–4 in the axils of nearly all the leaves, very shortly pedicelled. Perianth-segments oblong, obtuse, with a green centre and broad white margins. Nut ovoid, obtusely 3-gonous, very minutely striate or punctate.—Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 210; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 235; Benth. Fl. Austral. v. 267.
North and South Islands: Roadsides and waste places from the North Cape to Foveaux Strait. Most probably an immigrant. Sea-level to 2500 ft. Knot-grass; Makakaka. November–March.
It is highly doubtful if this is indigenous anywhere outside Europe and northern Asia, although its present distribution is almost cosmopolitan. So far as its occurrence in New Zealand is concerned, I should certainly have relegated it to the list of naturalised plants had it not been for the positive opinion expressed in favour of its nativity by the late Mr. Kirk. Those interested in the subject should read the papers by Kirk and Travers printed in Vols. iv. and v. of the Trans. N.Z. Institute.
2. P. plebeium, R. Br. Prodr. 420.—Habit of P. aviculare, but smaller and more compactly branched. Stems prostrate, glabrous or minutely scaberulous, 4–12 in. long, rarely more; branches slender, grooved. Leaves more closely placed than in P. aviculare, ⅙–½ in. long, linear to linear-oblong, rarely linear-spathulate, obtuse or subacute, midrib evident, margins flat or recurved; stipules short, hyaline, lacerate to the middle. Flowers small, 112–110 in. long, solitary or in clusters of 2–5 in the axils of most of the leaves; pedicels short. Nut smaller than in P. aviculare, rhomboid, obtusely 3-gonous, smooth and shining.—Benth. Fl. Austral. v. 267. P. Dryandri, Spreng. Syst. ii. 255; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 210. P. aviculare var. Dryandri, Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 236.
North and South Islands: From the Great Barrier Island and the East Cape southwards to the Bluff, but local in the North Island, most abundant in Canterbury and Otago. Sea-level to 3000 ft. November–March.
Very closely allied to P. aviculare, but apparently sufficiently distinct in the smaller size and more compact habit, smaller flowers, and smaller shiniug and polished nut. A common plant in Australia, tropical Asia, and some parts of Africa.
3. P. serrulatum, Lag. Gen. et Sp. Nov. 14.—Stems slender, herbaceous, sparingly branched, prostrate and rooting below, ascending or erect above, glabrous, 9–24 in. long or more. Leaves shortly petiolate, 2–5 in. long, lanceolate or linear-lanceolate,
