SAND SPURREY 



145 



Litions of sand or tjravel. Tlius it will orow in the Midlands on 

 the Pennincs, where igneous and xolcanic rocks have by disintegra- 

 tion produced an arenaceous subsoil, or on rocks and walls. Along 

 the maritime tracts of the coast counties it will be found where there 

 are wide stretches of sandy heath. 



No plant could be more prostrate in habit than this humble species, 

 which spreads its tlexible stems over the surface in the manner of a 

 club moss on huul or some stalkless seaweeds in the water. The stems 

 are hairy and numerous, nearK" round, with Inicar, flat, or tlircad-like 



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Plioto, A, K. Horwooii 



S.\N1) Spi KRKY {Spergiiliin'n rubra, Pirs.) 



leaves, shorter than the joints of the stem; and the stipules are large, 

 united at the base, silvery and torn, membranous at the margin, not 

 falling, inserted just below the leaves, enclosing them entirely in bud, 

 covering the base when fully devcloijcd. 



The flowers are like those of Common Sjuirrey, but pink or purple, 

 the petals equalling the calyx, and the capsule is the same length, 

 shorter than the fruit-stalk, the seeds egg-shaped, wedge-shaped, and 

 bordered. 



The plant never rises to a height of more than 2 in. It can be 

 seen in tlower from June to September. it is annual or biennial. 



The (lowers are like tho.se of Spcr<ritla. but are more conspicuous, 

 and the [)lant is not hidrlcn away amongst corn, but is prostrate on 

 rocky soils. It is in this way less dri\-en to self-pollination than 

 Spurrey. 



Vol v. 



72 



