2. Myosurus, Linn.

Annual herbs, of small size. Leaves all radical, linear, entire. Scapes usually numerous, naked, 1-flowered. Sepals 5, rarely more, minutely spurred at the base. Petals wanting in the New Zealand species. Stamens 5–8. Carpels numerous; ovules solitary, pendulous. Achenes closely packed on a long and slender spike-like receptacle which usually lengthens much as they ripen, each with a raised nerve on the back, ending in a short persistent style.

A small genus of only two species, one of which is widely spread in the north temperate zone, and is also found in Australia; the other is known only from California, Chili, and New Zealand.

1. M. aristatus, Benth. in Lond. Journ. Bot. vi. 459.—Varying: in size from 1–3 in. Leaves numerous, 1/20 in. broad or even less, erect, linear or linear-spathulate. Scapes usually several, slender, 1-flowered. Flower minute, yellowish, apetalous. Sepals 5, spur short. Stamens generally 5. Receptacle in fruit oblong or linear, ¼–¾ in long; achenes with a short beak.—Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 8; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 3; Kirk, Students' Fl. 5.

North Island: Palliser Bay, Colenso! Ocean beach near Wellington, Buchanan. South Island: Moist gravelly places near Lake Tekapo, T. F. C. Otago—Hyde, Beaumont, Speargrass Flat, Ida Valley, Lake Wanaka, Petrie! Gimmerburn, Kirk! Altitudinal range from sea-level to 2500 ft.