CARYOPHYLLACE.E. 57 



sli'olitly conical towards the apex, where it opens by short and 

 slightly recurved teeth. Seeds orbicular-reniforni, covered witli 

 concentric rows of small conical tubercles. Plant growing in largo 

 loose straggling tufts ; very smooth in var. a (except the margins 

 of the leaves, which are often ciliated), while in var. the stem 

 and leaves are both clothed with short curled hairs ; but all inter- 

 mediate states occur. 



I have little doubt that M. Crepin is right in considering that 

 S. vesicaria (Schrad.), S. puberula (Jord.), S. brachiata (Jord.), 

 and S. oleracea (Bor.), are only states of one species ; possibly even 

 S. maritima ought to be considered as only a sub-species, but I 

 have not myself seen the connecting forms which are said to exist. 



Common Bladder Camjoion. 



French, SiUne d C'alice Eujle. German, A ufgeblasener Taubenkropf. 



This species is also called Spatting Poppy, White Bottle, and is well known in 

 every counti-y tlistrict where it grows. The young shoots have been used as a substi- 

 tute for asparagus or green peas, and have the flavour of both. They ought to be 

 gathered when about two inches long, and the more they are blanched the betttr. 

 Bryant, in the " Flora Dietetica," says the culture of this plant would well reward the 

 gardener's trouble. In Gothland they apply the herb externally in erysipelous erup- 

 tions. The leaves boiled are not unpalatable, and proved of great use as a vegetable 

 to the inhabitants of Minorca in 1685, when a swarm of locusts destroyed the harvest. 



>C SPECIES II.— SILENE MARITIMA. Wlih. 



Plate CC. 

 Rdch. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. VI. Canjoph. Tab. CCXCIX. Fig. 5119. 



Rootstock almost woody, much branched, with numerous short 

 decumbent barren shoots and ascending nearly simple flowering 

 stems. Lower leaves oblanceolate, upper ones oblong-elliptical or 

 strap-shaped. Flowers nearly erect, generally solitary, rarely more 

 than 3. Calyx ovoid, umbilicate at the base, with 5 deltoid teeth 

 at the apex, where it is scarcely contracted. Petals with the laminge 

 broadly obovate, bipartite, with broad obovate contiguous or inctim- 

 bent lobes and 2 distinct scales at the base. Gynophore shorter 

 than the capsule. Capsule sub-globular. 



On sand, shingle, or rocks by the sea, or on wet rocks on moun- 

 tains. Common, and generally distributed wherever the conditions 

 requisite for its growth are found. 



England, Scotland, Ireland. Perennial. Summer and 

 (on mountains) Autumn. 



_ This plant certainly comes very near to S. inflata, with which 

 it is joined by Mr. Bentham, but it grows in much more compact 

 VOL. II. A-/ ^ n 



