Galium,] STELLATVE. 129 



compound flower, tlian of an umbelliferous plant. The roots are 

 well tasted, when candied. Linnaeus recommends the bleached shoots 

 as a substitute for Asparagus. 



2. E. campestre, Linn. Field Eryngo. Radical leaves sub- 

 ternate, lobes pinnatifid, cauline ones bipinnatifid, amplexicaul, 

 all with spinous teeth ; involucres lanceolate, spinous; scales of 

 the receptacle undivided. Br. FlA.p. 135. E, F/.v. ii. p, 

 35. E. Bot. t. 57. 



Rare. Sandy fields near Lismore, Waterford ; Mr. J. Drummond. 

 Fl. July, Aug. 21. 



(X. HVDKOCOTYI.E TRIBE.) 



29. Hydrocotyle. Linn. White-rot. 



Calyx an obsolete margin. Petals ovate, entire, acute, with a 

 straight point. Fruit compressed at the side, so as to form 

 two little shields. Carpels with five filiform ridges, those of 

 the keel and sides nearly obsolete, the intermediate arched, 

 without vittae. Seed carinate, compressed. — Creeping herbs, 

 with simple leaves, and green obscure flowers. — Name from 

 v8wp, water, and kotvXtj, a cup or vase. The leaves are a lit- 

 tle depressed, and stalked in the centre, and may thence 

 somewhat resemble a cup or platter. The plant grows in 

 watery places. Pentandria. Digynia. 



1. H. vulgaris, Linn. Common IVhite-rot, Marsh Penny-wort. 

 Leaves orbicular, peltate, smooth, cloven at the base ; umbels 

 somewhat aggregate; flowers nearly sessile. Smth. — Br. Fl. 1. 

 p. 136. E. FL v. ii. p. 96. E. Bot. t.75\. 



Bogs, marshes, and banks of lakes, frequent. FL May, June. 11 . — 

 Stems creeping, producing from their joints clusters of petiolated 

 leaves, and simple floiverstalks, which are much shorter than the pe- 

 tioles. Flowers often with a reddish tinpre. 



Ord. 34. STELLATiE. Lindl. Madder Family. 



Calyx superior, 4 — 5 or 6-lobed. Corolla monopetalous, ro- 

 tate or tubular, regular, inserted into the calyx. Stamens equal 

 in number to the lobes of the corolla, and alternate with them. 

 Ovarium simple, 2-celled ; ovules solitary, erect ; style simple ; 

 stigmas two. Fruit a dry indehiscent pericarpium, with two 

 cells, and two seeds. Seeds erect, solitary ; embryo straight in 

 the axis of horny albumen; radicle inferior; cotyledons leafy. — 

 Herbaceous plants ; with whorled leaves, destitute of stipula: ; 

 square stems ; roots staining red ; flovjers minute. 



1. Galium. Linn. Bed-straw. 



Corolla rotate, or campanulate, 5-eleft. Fruit dry, not crowned 



Q 



