180 ENGLISH BOTANV. 



stein usually shorter and more equal in size than in II. glabra, but I 

 can see no difference as to the clusters being separate or distinct, which 

 Professor Babington makes one of the distinguishing characters. In 

 cultivated specimens, from a root received from the Cambridge garden 

 by Mr. H. C. Watson as H. ciliata, the clusters are perfectly confluent on 

 the lateral branches. On the wild Cornish plant they are sometimes 

 confluent, sometimes distinct, in the latter case with fewer flowers than 

 in the former; but the real distinction between H. glabra and H. ciliata 

 lies in the sufii'utescent growth of the latter, in which, as well as in the 

 broad leaves and stem being pubescent only on the side away from the 

 ground, it resembles H. latifolia, Laperyouse^ though the latter plant 

 differs in the more distinctly stalked and larger flowers, bristly-hairy 

 sejjals, and erect stigmas. 



Ciliated Ritpture wort. 



GENUS IJL—I LLECEBRUM. Linn. 



Calyx coloured, parchment-like, persistent, 5-pai'tite ; in fruit seg- 

 ments keeled, pure white, oblong, thickened and slightly hooded at the 

 apex, where they are produced into a subulate point. Petals (?) 5, 

 perigynous, resembling barren filaments. Stamens 5. Ovary 1-celled, 

 containing a single ovule ; stigmas 2, subsessile. Fruit ovoid, mem- 

 branous, opening at the base by 5 or 10 valves, which remain attached 

 at the base, enclosed in the connivent calyx segments, which enlarge 

 and become corky after floAvering. 



A glabrous herb with filiform procumbent stems, and broadly ovate 



opposite leaves, with minute scai'ious stipules. Flowers minute, sessile, 



asfgregated in the axils of the leaves along the whole of the stem and 



branches. 



The origin of tlie name of this genus of plants is from Illecebra, an enticement, as 

 enticing the simpler into marshes and bogs. 



SPECIES!.— ILLECEBRUM VERTICILLATUM. Linn. 



Plate MCLXXIII. 

 BiUof, Fl. Gall, et Germ. Exsioc. No. 5.5G. 



The only known species. 



In sandy bogs in the counties of Devon and Cornwall. 



England. Annual. Late Summer, Autumn. 



Stems mimerous, procumbent, rooting at the base, very slender 

 branched, 3 inches to 1 foot long. Leaves opposite, oval or roundish, 

 attenuated at the base, but with scarcely any distinct stalk, -i- to \- inch 

 long. Stipules large, wholly scarious and white. Flowers subsessile. 



