CARYOPHYLLACE^. 101 



SPECIES I.— ARE N ARIA TRINERVIS. Linn. 



Plate CCXXXIV. 



Miihringia tr'mervia,, Clairv. Eekh. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. V. Caryoph. Tab. CCXVI. 



Fig. 4943. 

 M. trivernis, Clairv. et Auct. Plur. 



Root annual. Stems numerous, weak, diffusely branclied at 

 the base, spreading or ascending. Leaves ovate- oval or oval, acute, 

 3- (or more rarely 5-) nerved, very thin in texture ; the lower ones 

 with stalks about as long as the laminae ; the upper ones sub-sessile. 

 Elowers numerous, in dichotomous cymes terminating the stem 

 and branches, with leaf-like bracts. Pedicels very long, spreading 

 and curved downwards at the apex after flowering. Sepals 5, 

 lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, with 3 nerves down the 

 middle, the central one hairy and stronger than the glabrous lateral 

 ones ; margins broadly membranous and ciliated. Petals oblan- 

 eeolate, two-thirds the length of the sepals. Capsule shorter than 

 the calyx, opening by revolute valves. Seeds black, roundisli- 

 reniform, smooth and shining, with a small strophiole in the inden- 

 tation. Plant pubescent, with short hairs, but frequently glabrous 

 below ; margins of the leaves ciliated. 



In damp woods, thickets, and hedgebanks. Not uncommon. 

 Most abundant in England and the South of Scotland, but not 

 extending to the extreme North of the latter country. 



England, Scotland, Ireland. Annual. Spring and 

 Early Summer. 



Eoot very slender. Stem subdividing near the crown of the 

 root into very numerous equal branches from 3 to 18 inches long. 

 Leaves ^ to 1 inch long, those in the middle part of the stem the 

 largest. Elowers about ^ inch across or less, white. Peduncles 

 f to 1^ inch long when full grown. Plant light green, with some- 

 what the habit of Stellaria media, the common Chickweed. 



A small pentandrous form has been found in Braemar by 

 Mr. Croall; this, however, is not Mohringia pentandra (Gay), a 

 South European plant, with the leaves and sepals not ciliated, the 

 latter 1-nerved, the stamens shorter, the capsule longer, and the 

 seeds with minute raised points. Dr. Walker Arnott remarks, with 

 good reason, that " these two plants accord ill with the other species 

 placed in Mohringia" (Brit. El. ed. viii. p. 68). 



Three-nerved Sandwort. 



French, Sahline Trinervee. German, Drehiervicje Sanikraul. 



