196 TETRANDRIA-MONOGYNIA. Sherardia. 



from which this species is elegantly and decisively distinguished 

 by the 5 -cleft corolla, which like that is radiant. Seed-crown of 

 5 brown bristles, accompanied by a short, notched, membranous 

 ruffle, originating in the outer calyx. 



67. SHERARDIA. Sherardia, or Field- 

 madder. 



Linn. Sp. PL 50. Juss. 196. Fl.Br.l7\. Lam.t.61. Gcertn.t.24. 



Nat. Ord. Stellatce. Linn. 47. Rubiacece. Juss. 57. sect. 1. 

 3 following genera the same. See Grammar 127. 



[The first section in Jussieu, to which all our genera belong, 

 is the genuine type of this order, as originally understood. 

 It is marked by a. fruit consisting of 2 naked seeds, of a 

 roundish or perfectly globular figure, whose skin is either 

 smooth, granulated, hairy, or prickly, and in Rubia is 

 internally pulpy. Or this fruit may be considered as a 

 pair of Qtriculi ; or membranous capsules without valves, 

 see Grammar 23 ; Hubia having a twin berry. The 

 latter accords with the sentiments of those who do not 

 acknowledge the existence of naked seeds. The leaves 

 are simple, undivided, 4 or more in each whorl ; their 

 edges prickly rather than serrated. Flowers axillary or 

 terminal, generally many together. 



These herbs are said to possess a diuretic quality. 



A prize was offered in 1789, by the Academy of Sciences, 

 &c, at Lyons, for the best botanical and economical 

 treatise on the Linnaean Stellatce; and it was gained by the 

 late M. Willemet of Nanci, whose work, forming a small 

 octavo volume, was published at Strasburgh in 1791.] 



Cal. small, superior, of 1 leaf, with 6 segments or teeth, per- 

 manent. Cor. monopetalous, funnel-shaped ; tube cylin- 

 drical ; limb in 4, rarely but 3, equal, flat, acute seg- 

 ments. Filam. from the mouth of the tube, recurved. 

 Anth. roundish, 2-lobed. Germ, inferior, of 2 round or 

 oblong lobes. Style capillary, divided at the top. Stigmas 

 bluntish, or capitate. Seeds 2, naked, roundish or ob- 

 long, rough, each crowned with 3 teeth from the calyx. 



Herbaceous, with branched stems, and whorled leaves. Fl. 

 terminal, or axillary ; blue or yellow. 



1. S. arvensis. Blue Sherardia. Little Field- madder. 



All the leaves whorled. Flowers terminal. 



S.arvensis. Linn. Sp. Pl.\ 49. Willd.v.\.574. Fi.Br.\7\. Engl. 



