116 ENGLISH BOTANY. 



sides Laving on the disk anastomosing ridges, forming narrow 

 openings, and round the margins a slightly rugose hand composed 

 of flattened tabular tubercles. 



In boggy places. Yery rare. By the banks of the stream on 

 the sugar-limestone near the top of Widdy Bank Fell, Teesdale, 

 Durham, from whence I am favoured with specimens by Mr. J. G. 

 Baker. 



England. Perennial. Summer. 



Plant growing in small tufts, with the leaves J to -| inch long, 

 frequently falcate. The flowering stem 2 to 4 inches high, nearly 

 leafless. Peduncles often 1 inch or more long. Plowers f inch 

 across. Seeds very unlike those of any of the previous species ; 

 the ridged portion of the disk fuscous ; the marginal band reddish 

 brown. 



This plant has quite the habit of a Sagina, in which genus it 

 was originally placed by Swartz, tliough thei-e is a technical dis- 

 tinction in the 3-valved capsule which has caused its removal to 

 Arenaria or Alsine ; but, in consequence of this change of place, it 

 becomes necessarv to use the name " ulii^inosa," as there is a well- 

 known American plant, Arenaria (Alsine) stricta, of Michaux, 

 with which it might otherwise be confounded. 



Bog Sandwort. 



GENUS XII.— S A G I N A. Zhm. 



Sepals 4 or 5, concave, spreading when in flower. Petals as 

 many as the sepals, entire or slightly notched, sometimes very 

 small or entirely absent. Stamens 4 when the sepals are 4 ; 5 to 10 

 when the sepals are 5. Styles as many as the sepals. Capsule 

 splitting to the base into as many valves as there are sepals. 



Small annual or perennial plants, with short filiform or subu- 

 late leaves, frequently with fascicles of leaves in the axils. Plowers 

 small, white, generally with long pedicels, in terminal cymes often 

 reduced to single flowers. 



In Latin the generic name of tins plant signifies fatness, fattening food ; and 

 it was supposed by Linuseus that the species possessed this quality, and fattened sheep 

 feeding on them. 



Section I.— EU-SAGINA. 



Sepals 4. Petals 4, very small or wanting. Stamens 4. 

 Styles 4. Capsule 4-valved. 



