CARTOPHYLLACE^. 97 



broad approximate lobes. Capsule globular, inflated, as long as tlie 

 calyx. Plant glabrous, with the margins of the leaves rough, and 

 the upper part of the stem hairy. 



In grassy places in woods, thickets, and hedge-banks, also on 

 rocks on mountains. Very common throughout Britain. 



England, Scotland, Ireland. Perennial. Sj)ring and 

 Early Summer. 



Stem decumbent at the base, then erect, 1 to 2 feet high, stiff, 

 and breaking readily at the joints. Barren shoots decumbent or 

 ascending, much shorter than the flowering stems. Leaves 1^ to 

 4 inches long by ^ to ^ inch broad, stiff, somewhat grass-like. 

 Bracts similar to the leaves, but smaller. Elowers white, ^ to f 

 inch across, generally rather few, on long pedicels. Seeds tuber- 

 culate. Plant deep green, very slightly glaucous, with very short 

 stiff hairs on the edges and midrib of the leaves, and others rather 

 softer on the angles of the upj^er part of the stem. 



A monstrosity of this species has occurred at Pontypool, and 

 also in the Isle of Wight : in this form the petals are shorter and 

 laciniate. 



Greater StUchwort. 



French, Stellaire Ilolostee. German, Grossblumiges Vogelkraut. 



This pretty plant is -worth the trouble of cultivation, and forms a very elegant 

 border flower. In old English it is called " Adder's Meat," or " All Bones." 



Section III.— LARBIIEA. Fenz. (non ,S'^. mi. nee Ser.). 



Leaves sessile, varying from linear - strapshaped to ovate. 

 Elowers usually rather small. Stamens inserted on a perigynous 

 disk or ring, which adheres to the calyx. Capsule ovoid, oblong, 

 or turbinate. 



SPECIES v.— S TELLARIA GLAUCA. With. 



Plate CCXXXI. 



Beich. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. V. Canjoiih. Tab. CCXXIII. Fig. 4909. 



Rootstock creeping, with barren shoots. Stem erect, with alter- 

 nate branches especially near the base. Leaves all sessile, linear- 

 elliptical or strap-shaped, attenuated at each end, all ascending. 

 Elowers in an irregular few-flowered terminal dichotomous cyme, 

 or solitary and axillary. Bracts linear-lanceolate, membranous, 

 with an herbaceous strip in the middle. Sepals lanceolate, acute, 

 with broadly membranous margins, rather indistinctly 3-veined. 

 Petals longer than the sepals (often twice as long), bipartite, with 



VOL. II. o 



