SEA-HEATH TRIBE 99 



very numerous, growing in bundles, and much like those of our common 

 purple heather; and the stems are wiry and spreading. This species is 

 found more on the eastern coast of England than elsewhere. It is not un- 

 common on several muddy shores of the Isle of Sheppey, in Kent ; and 

 about Yarmouth, on the salt marshes. It also grows on some sea cliffs, as at 

 Archcliff Fort, at the west of Dover, and at Lydden Spout, which lies also 

 at the west of that ancient town. It is unknown on our northern coasts. 

 On those of France it is common ; and the plant is called by the French, 

 La Frenkenne. Backhouse, in his work on Australia, speaking of the country 

 in the neighbourhood of Adelaide, says, that the salt marsh there was covered 

 with two kinds of glasswort, one of which was shrubby; and that interspersed 

 among them were two species of Frankenia, one of these being bushy, about 

 a foot high, and besprinkled with rosy-pink blossoms, the size of a silver 

 penny. 



2. Powdery Sea- Heath (F. pulveruUnta). — Leaves inversely egg-shaped, 

 and blunt, smooth above, downy and poM'dery beneath. Plant annual. 

 This plant is commonly enumerated among our British species, but no 

 habitat is now known for it. It was found in the time of Dillenius on the 

 coast of Sussex. Its stems are described as prostrate, and its flowers rather 

 smaller than those of the smooth Sea-Heath. The Sea-Heaths in general are 

 not sufficiently showy to obtain much attention from gardeners ; but two or 

 three species — natives of Australia and the Cape of Good Hope — have been 

 cultivated. 



Order XIII. ELATINEiE WATER-WORT TRIBE. 



Sepals 2 — 5, distinct, or growing together at the base ; petals equal in 

 number to the sepals ; stamens the same in number as the petals, or twice as 

 many; ovary with 3 — 5 cells, and as many styles and globular stigmas; 

 capsule with 2 — 5 cells and valves ; seeds numerous, wrinkled, arising from 

 the centre of the capsule. These Water-worts are annual, aquatic, herbaceous 

 plants, with rooting, pipe-like stems and opposite leaves. They are not 

 showy flowers, but homely weeds, abounding in marshes and waste places in 

 most parts of the world. They are, as far as is known, perfectly harmless ; . 

 but they possess no medicinal properties. 



Water-wort {FldtineySeipah 2—4, growing together at the base; 

 petals 2 — 4 ; stamens 2 — 4, or 4 — 8 ; ovary 3 — 4-celled, many seeded ; 

 seeds cylindrical, furrowed, and marked with transverse lines. Origin of 

 name doubtful. 



Water-wort {Eldtine). 



1. Six-stamened Water-wort {E. hexmidra). —Flower stalked; 

 petals 3 ; stamens 6 ; capsule 3-celled ; seeds straight. Plant annual. 

 This, though by no means a common aquatic, is found in some lakes and 

 pools, growing either entirely below the surface of the water, or forming 

 dense masses at their margins. The whole plant is small, and the minute 

 rose-coloured flowers are produced from July to September. It is recorded 

 from several English and Scottish counties, but by reason of its small si/e it 

 is an easy matter to overlook it. The liev. C A. Johns remarks of this plant, 



13—2 



