217 SAGINA. [class IV. OEDER III. 



GENUS XXI. SAGI'NA, Linn. Pearl-wort. 



Nat. Old. Caryofhylle^. 



Gen. Char. Cahjx inferior, of four permanent leaves. Petals four, 

 shorter than the calyx, sometimes absent. Capsule of one cell and 

 lour equal valves. Seeds numerous, each attached to the receptacle 

 by its own stalk. Insignificant weeds, with axillary white and 

 greenish flowers. So named, as we are informed by Linnaeus, on 

 account of its nourishing qualities. 



1. S. procum' bens, 1,111X1. (Fig. 282,) Procumbent Pearl-wort. Stems 

 ])rocurabent, smooth, leaves pointed. Petals shorter than the calyx. 



English Bot. t. 880.— English Flora, vol. 1, p. 239.— Hooker, British 

 Flora, vol. i., p. 79. — Lindley's Synopsis of the British Flora, p. 49. 



Stems and every 'part of the plant glabrous, spreading, and often 

 covering three to four inches in thick concealed tufts, with the stems 

 rooting at the joints, and often remaining evergreen throughout the 

 winter. " In alpine situations growing amongst Spergula subulata, 

 from which it is with difficulty distinguished." ( Hooker.) Leaves li- 

 near, subulate, membranous, united at the base, and about half an inch 

 in length ; rather obtuse, but terminated by a minute bristle. Pe- 

 duncles axillary, solitary, longer than the leaves. Flowers drooping at 

 first, with whitish petals. 



" The late Rev. H. Davies gathered, on a green near Beaumaris, in 

 July, 1817, a very pretty variety, with rose-like double flowers, of from 

 twenty- seven to thirty petals. This has found its way into some curious 

 gardens." — Smith. 



Habitat. — Damp gravel walks, sandy soils, and moist places ; fre- 

 quent. 



Perennial ; flowering May and June, 



2. S. ape'tala, Linn. (Fig. 283,) Annual Small-fiowered Pearl-wort. 

 Leaves fringed, bristle-pointed, slightly hairy. Petals mtich smaller 

 than the calyx. 



English Bot. t. 881.— English Flora, vol. i., p. 240.— Lindley's Syn- 

 opsis, p. 49. 



Root fibrous. Stems upright or ascending, but not rooting when in 

 contact with the ground; generally more or less covered with rough, 

 scattered hairs. Leaves resembling the preceding, but fringed at the 

 edges, more glaucous, rarely glabrous, and terminated by a distinct 

 bristle. Peduncles long, slender, and hairy. Petals white, entire or 

 notched, sometimes absent. Capsule twice the length of the calyx. 



Habitat. — Barren ground, walls, and waste places; common. 



Annual ; May and June. 



3. S. mari'tima, Don. (Fig. 284,) Sea Pearl-tvort. Stems erect or 

 procumbent near the base, divaricated, smooth, leaves obtuse, fleshy, 

 Petals absent. 



English Bot. t. 2195.— English Flora, vol. i., p. 240.=-Lindley's 

 Synopsis, p. 49.~Hooker, British Flora, vol. i., p. 80. ' 



VOL, I. 2 F 



