spBRouLA. DECANDRIA. PENTAGYNIA. 457 



ORDER IV. 

 PENTAGYNIA. 



30G. Spergula* 309. Oxalis. 



307. Cerastium. 310. Penthorum, 



303. Agrostemma. 311. Sedum. 



30G. SPERGULA. L. 



Calyx 5-leaved. Petals 5, undivided. Capsule 

 ovate, 5-celled, 5-vaived. Gen. pi. 796. Nu t U 

 Gen. I. p. 200. Juss, p. 301. Lam, III. t. 392. 

 f. 2. Nat. Ord. Caryophylle^ Ju s s. Spurrey. 



1 . S. arverisis L. : leaves verticillate ; panicle dichoto- 

 mous ; peduncles of the fruit reflexed. Willd. Spec. !I. 

 p. 818. Smith Fl. Brit. II, p. 502. Eng. Bot. t. Ia35. 

 Pursh FLU p, 320. B i g. Bost. p, lU. Elliott Sk, 

 I. p. 523. fValt.Car.p.2U. 



Root annual. Stem 6—10 inches high, assurgcnt, smooth, terete, 

 swelling; at the joints. Leaves fihfurm, in whorls of 8 — 10, 

 shorter than the internodes. Panicle few-flowered ; fiedunclea 

 abruptly deflexed after flowcririg. Leaflets of the ca/yx ovate, 

 acute. Petals white, rather longer than the calyx. Stamens 

 10. Capsule ovate. Seeds subglobose, somewhat hispid, with 

 a narrow circular margin, brown ; " margin of the seed very- 

 variable in breadth." Ho o k er. 



Hab. In sandy fields and cultivated grounds ; not uncommon. 

 June — August. Introduced from Europe. Corn Sfiurrey. 

 The S. fientandra is supposed by Hooker to be but a 

 variety of this species. 



2. S. suginoides L. : glabrous ; leaves opposite, subulate, 

 awnless ; peduncles solitary, very long, smooth. JFilld, 

 Spec. If. p. 818. Smitk'Fl. Brit. II. p. 504.. Eng. Bot. 

 t. 2105. Mich. Fl. \.p.21G. P ur s h FL\. p. 320. 

 S. decumhms Elliott 5'A:. I. p. 523. S. nodosa IV alt. 

 Car. p. 241. 



Root annual. Stem decumbent, branching, 2-w3 inches long, 

 58 



