96 ENGLISH BOTANY. 



Leaves elliptical- lanceolate or strapshaped-lanceolate, acute, minutely 

 pubescent above, sti'igosely hairy beneath. Inflorescence of 3 or 4 

 branches from the apex of the stem, and generally 3 or 4 from the 

 axils of the upper leaves, all of which elongate considerably in fruit. 

 Bracts longer than the calyx. Pedicels much shorter thnn the calyx 

 in fruit. Corolla a little longer than the calyx. Nucules bony, pearly 

 white, polished and shining, ovate-ovoid, slightly acuminated toward 

 the apex, more than half as long as the calyx segments. 



In hedge-banks, open woods, and bushy and waste places. leather 

 scarce, but generally distributed; reaching north to Ross and Moray, 

 but scarce in Scotland. Rather rare, but generally distributed in 

 Ireland. 



England, Scotland, Ireland. Perennial. Summer. 



Rootstock rather thick, woody, not creeping. Stems stout, very 

 rigid, 1 to 3 feet high, hairy, with the tubercles from which the hairs 

 spring very prominent, so that when it is dry it feels like a file. 

 Leaves crowded, 1| to 4 inches long, variable in breadth. Inflores- 

 cence at first capitate, the branches at length growing till tliey are 

 2 to 8 inches long and form a short panicle. Calyx segments ^ inch 

 long in flower, and about I inch in fruit, strigosely hairy as well as 

 the rachis and pedicels. Flowers ^ inch long, ochreous- white. Nucules 

 scarcely so large as hemp seed, generally only one or two ripening in 

 each calyx; they taper considerably towards the apex, and are tinged 

 with grey. Plant green; the upper side of the leaves thickly covered 

 with very short hairs seated on minute tubercles, the lower surface 

 with long adpressed haii's. 



Common Gromwell. 



Frencli, Gremil officinal. German, Gehrduchlicher Steinsame. 



In ancient times tliis plant had a reputation in calculous complaints, witli, how- 

 ever, no good foundation. It is knovsTi in various parts of the country as Gray Mile 

 or Millet and Pearl Plant. 



SPECIES III.— LIT HO SPERM UM ARVENSE. Linn.. 



Plate MCII. 



Beich. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Holv. Vol. XVIII. Tab. MCCCXIV. Figs. 5 and G. 

 Billot, Fl. Gall, et Germ. Exsicc. No. 153. 



Annual. Barren shoots none. Stem erect, flexuous. Leaves 

 strapshaped or strapshaped-elliptical, subobtuse, shortly strigosely 

 hairy on both sides. Inflorescence of 2 or 3 branches from the apex 

 of the stem, and often additional ones from the axils of the upper 

 leaves, all of which elongate much in fruit. Lower bracts longer than 

 the calyx, the upper ones scarcely exceeding it. Pedicels much 



