WG TETRANDRIA— MONOGYNIA. Sherardia. 



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. 



Li7in. Sp. PL 50. Juss.l96. Fl.Br.\7\. Lam. t. 61. Gartn.t. 24. 

 Nat. Ord. Stellated. Linn. 47. Ruhiacece, Juss. 57. 5^c/. 1. 



3 following genera the same. See Grammar 127. 

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

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

 It is marked by a Jruit consisting of 2 naked seeds, of a 

 roundish or perfectly globular figure, whose skin is either 

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

 internally pulpy. Or this fruit may be considered as a 

 pair of Utriculi ; or membranous capstdes without valves, 

 see Grammar 23; Rubia having a twin beiTy. 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. Flo'wers 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 oblong, rough, 

 each crowned with 3 teeth from the calyx. 

 Herbaceous, with branched steins, 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. FL Br.l7\. Engl. 



Bot. V. 13. t. 891. Curt. LoncLfasc. 5. t. 13. Hook. Scot. 50. 



Fl. Dan, t. 439. Willem. StelL 76. 



