I 



APETAL.^ 205 



wavy, spreading, the stem striped, angular. The 

 leaves are awl-like, linear, ending in a sharp prickle, 

 rough, the lower ones semi-cylindrical, fleshy, enlarged 

 below, bent back. The upper leaves are ovate, 

 triangular, shorter and broader, half-clasping. 



The flowers are solitary or few, one to three, with 

 spinous bracts, stalkless, in the upper axils, the 

 perianth-segments hard and tough, as long as the 

 wings which are rounded, broad or narrow, with a 

 membranous margin, rose-coloured, spreading, hori- 

 zontal over the fruit, shorter than the bracts. 



The seeds are brown and adhere to the pericarp. 



In height Saltwort varies from 6-18 in. It flowers 

 in July and August, and is a herbaceous annual. 



The flowers are minute and not likely to be visited 

 by many insects. The anthers and stigma ripen at 

 the same time^ or the latter first, in which case, being 

 dichogamous, cross-pollination is necessary. 



The fruit is a utricle, and is enclosed in the five- 

 winged, starlike, enlarged calyx, and by aid of the 

 latter may be dispersed to a distance by the wind, 

 or, in default, fall near the plant itself. 



Eestrige, Prickly Glasswort, Kelpwort, Sowdwort, 

 Sea Thrift, are the names bestowed upon this plant. 

 Turner, in citing the first name, quaintly remarks 

 " I remember now that one Englishman called this 

 herbe Eestrige." Sowd Wort is also applied to the 

 Columbine. 



Salsola Kali. — Fig. 59 shows the entire habit of 

 the plant, with its awl-like, pointed, prickly leaves, the 



