332 GLAUX. '^'^'-A" V. ORDER I. 



made, namely, the support of tlie climliing branches, but not as means 

 of al)sorbing sustenance for the maintenance of its vitality. 



GENUS XLT. GLA'UX.— Linn. Sea MilJcioort, 



Nat. Ord. Primula'ce^e. Vent. 



Gen. Char. Perianth single, inferior bell-shaped, five-cleft, coloured. 

 Stamens inserted at the bottom of the perianth. Stigma capitate. 

 Capsule globose, of one cell and five valves. Seeds about five, 

 attached to a central placenta. — Name from yXxvyncv, on account 

 of its sea green colour, or because it grows near the sea. 



1. G. mari'tima, Linn. (Fig. 400.) common Sea Milkivort, or Black 

 Saltu-ort. 



English Botany, t. 13. — English Flora, vol. i. p. 337. — Hoolier, 

 British Flora, vol. i. p. 124. — Lindley, Synopsis, p. 183. 



Root with long branched fibres. Stem bent at the base, or nearly 

 erect, and sending out roots from the lower joints, from two to five 

 inches high, branched, especially below, round, smooth, and very leafy. 

 Leaves in alternate pairs, ovate or ovate oblong, quite smooth, entire, 

 fleshy, of a glaucous green, paler beneath, with a mid-rib, saltish to the 

 taste. Flowers numerous, solitary, nearly sessile in the axis of the 

 leaves, of a pinkish colour, the perianth single, bell-shaped, deeply 

 cleft into five obtuse segments. Stamens inserted into the bottom of 

 the perianth. Filaments awl-shaped, and as long as the perianth. 

 Anthers oblong, of two longtitudinal cells. Style as long as the 

 stamens, tapering upwards with a capitate stigma. Capsule globose, 

 pointed with the base of the style, of one cell, bursting with five valves. 

 Seeds mostly five, roundish, attached to a central globose placenta. 

 Embryo central, straight. 



Habitat. — Sea shore, and muddy marshes near the sea ; frequent. 



Perennial ; flowering in June and July. 



GENUS XLII. ILLE'CEBRUM Linn. Knotgrass. 



Nat. Ord. Paronychi'e>e. St. Hil. 



Gen. Char. Cahjx in five nearly separate segments, thickened and 

 laterally compressed, cartilaginous, terminating in a slender awl- 

 shaped point. Petals wanliug, or reduced to five alternate awl- 

 shaped scales. Sti/lr sliovt. Sligmas two, obtuse. Capsule 



