54 
STATICE monopetala. 
Monopetalous Sea Lavender. 
- PENTANDRIA PENTAGYNIA. 
Nat. ord. PLUMBAGINACES. 
STATICE. Botanical Register, 17. fol. 1450. 
S. monopetala ; albo-lepidota, caule fruticoso folioso, foliis lineari-spathulatis 
basi vaginantibus, spicis paniculatis squamatis, floribus solitariis distan- 
tibus, corollA incurva hypocrateriformi, calyce herbaceo vix exserto vel 
aucto. 
S. monopetala. “Linn. sp. pl. 1. 296. Desf. fl. atl. 1. 277. Forskh. Fi. 
egypt. arab. 59. no. 97. 
There is something so peculiar in the habit of this plant, 
that, notwithstanding the assertion of Linneus that “ nullus 
sanus” would think of separating it from the genus Statice, 
we feel inclined to do so. In its corolla with a very long 
curved tube, and the calyx, which scarcely enlarges after 
flowering, we have clear marks of distinction from the true 
Sea Lavenders. Nevertheless it is perhaps as well to leave 1t 
in Statice till the numerous other shrubby species shall have 
been carefully examined. 
This species is found wild in the Southern parts of Eu- 
rope, and in the North of Africa. Desfontaimes gathered it 
in Algiers, Brotero mentions it as Portuguese, ‘Tenore 
describes it as inhabiting the swamps of Calabria, and 
Forskahl found it common at Alexandria in the deserts about 
the Catacombs, where he says it is called Sefj or Zajta. 
The whole of the green parts are covered with white disks, 
distant from each other about twice their own diameter, 
and apparently composed of calcareous matter. Does not 
this render it probable that some of the salts of lime, the 
muriate for instance, would prove grateful food for It. The 
experiment is worth trying, for if the plant has so much more 
