FLOWERING PLANTS OF TEE SEA-SIDE 409 



a loose pyramidal cluster, while another bears its spikes in a 

 compact level-topped corymb with short firm branches. Another 

 species (S. bahusiensis) is characterised by long spikes of distant 

 flowers, the stalk being branched from near the base. The 

 Upright Sea Lavender (S. binervosa) of rocky shores has the stalk 

 branched from the middle, with, usually, nearly all the branches 

 flowering, though there are varieties in which the flowers are 

 differently arranged. The Matted Sea Lavender (S. caspia) grows 

 in salt marshes on the east coast of England. Its flower stalk is 

 branched from the base, but the lower branches are barren and 

 tangled, while the upper bear small crowded lilac flowers. The 

 leaves of the last two species are spatulate in form. 



The Bittersweet or Woody Nightshade (Solanum Dulcamara) 

 of the order Solanacece is common in hedgerows and waste places 

 almost everywhere, but a variety of it (marinum) has its habitat 

 along the coast. It may be distinguished from the normal form 

 by its prostrate branched and non- climbing stem, and by its fleshy 

 leaves. The latter are all cordate, while in the normal the upper 

 leaves are auricular. The order to which Solanum belongs is 

 characterised by a regular five-cleft calyx and corolla, four or five 

 stamens attached to the corolla, and a superior two-celled ovary. 

 The flowers are in axillary cymes, and the fruit is a berry. 



Convolvulacece is represented on sandy shores by the Sea-side 

 Bindweed (Convolvulus Soldanella), a small species, with pinkish 

 purple flowers, the prostrate stem of which rarely measures more 

 than a foot in length. The plants of this order are generally 

 climbing plants with alternate leaves and regular showy flowers. 

 The calyx is composed of five sepals, the corolla of four or five 

 lobes, and the stamens are attached to the corolla. The ovary is 

 superior, two- or four-celled, and the fruit a capsule. The above 

 species may be recognised by its reniform leaves (sagittate in the 

 others), which are also fleshy. 



To the order Gentianacece belong the Centaury (Erythrcea), 

 three out of the four British species of which grow on sandy shores. 

 In the flowers of this order the calyx has from four to ten lobes ; 

 the stamens also number four to ten, and are alternate with the 

 lobes of the corolla. The ovary is one- or two-celled, and the fruit 

 is a berry with many seeds. The leaves are usually opposite and 

 entire, and the flowers are generally showy, regular, and solitary. 

 Erythrcea has a funnel-shaped corolla, five stamens, and two 

 stigmas, on a deciduous style ; and in all our species the flower 



