CAEYOPHYLLACE.E. 133 



brilliant white, and the leaves have more frequently fascicles 

 of smaller leaves iu their axils. The thick coating of glandular 

 j)ubescence forms a very obvious character. The seeds are quite 

 different from those of any other British species, being nearly regu- 

 larly obovate, the outer margin partaking very little of the semi- 

 circular curve which obtains in S. rubra, and the surface is not 

 ornamented with star-based tubercles as in that species, but studded 

 over with small rather distant projecting warts or papilla?. The 

 colour of the seeds is rich dark brown, very different from the pale 

 yellowish colour of those of S. marina. The outermost of the imbri- 

 cated sepals are considerably narrower than the others (as iu the 

 rest of the genus), and the innermost ones have broad scarious mar- 

 gins ; it is from the latter that the shape described in the specific 

 character is taken. 



This species was first introduced amongst British plants in the 

 " London Catalogue of British Plants," fifth edition, page 2, 

 No. 17-i* ; but the authority given, " Cambessedes," was a typo- 

 graphical error for Lebel. The introduction was made on the 

 authority of specimens collected by myself at Cobo Bay, Guernsey ; 

 and as I had received authentic rreneh specimens from M. Lenor- 

 mand, of Vire, I was able to identify it with certainty. The Sper- 

 gularia rupestris of Cambessedes is a very different plant, namely, 

 Arenaria Bonariensis (Ilooker), which is a native of Australia. On 

 this account Dr. Lebel afterwards changed the name to " rupicola ;" 

 but as " rupestris " has come into general use, it seems unneces- 

 sary to abandon it. 



Bock Sea Sandicort-Spurrey. 



French, Spergulaire des Rochers. 



GENUS Xr.—F O L Y C A R P O N. Li 



mil. 



Sepals 5, keeled, hooded at the apes, spreading in flower. 

 Petals 5, small, entire or slightly notched. Stamens 3 to 6. Style 

 short, 3-cleft. Capsule 3-valved. Seeds numerous, semieircular- 

 ovoid, shagreened, not winged. 



Small dichotomously-branched herbs, with obovate or oblong 

 opposite or whorled leaves with scarious stipules. Plowers very 

 small and numerous, crowded in terminal dichotomous cymes with 

 scarious bracts. 



SPECIES I— POLYCARPON TETR APH YLLU M. Linn.fil. 



Plate CCLVIII. 

 Annual. Leaves at the base of the stem generally in fours, 

 those of the branches opposite. Sepals mucronate. Petals notched, 

 shorter than the calyx. 



