PRIMROSE FAMILY 



323 



8. CentIjnculus (Chaffweed, Bastard Pimpernel). — Minute 

 plants, with leaves partly opposite, partly scattered ; flowers axillary, 

 sub-sessile, minute, often 4-merous ; corolla with an inflated, sub- 

 globose tube ; filaments not hairy ; capsule splitting all round. 

 (Name of doubtful etymology.) 



I. C. minimus (Chaffweed, 

 Bastard Pimpernel). — The only 

 British species, one of the smallest 

 among British flowering plants, 

 rarely exceeding an inch in height, 

 and often much less. It is nearly 

 aUied to. the Pimpernels, and at 

 the first glance might be mistaken 

 for a stunted specimen of Ana- 

 gdllis arvhisis. It is sometimes 

 branched; but very frequently 

 consists of a single stem, 6 or 8 

 ovate, acute leaves, and as many 

 inconspicuous, nearly sessile, pale 

 pink flowers. — Damp, gravelly 

 places, especially where water has 

 stood during winter. — Fl. June — 

 August. Annual. 



9. Samolus (Brookweed). — 

 Leaves partly radical partly cauline, 

 and scattered ; flowers in a termi- 

 nal, bracteate corymb ; calyx half 

 superior, 5 - cleft, persistent ; 

 corolla salver - shaped, white ; 

 stamens 5, epipetalous, alternating 

 with 5 staminodes ; capsule open- 

 ing with 5 reflexed teeth. (Name 

 said to be from the island of 

 Samos, where Valerandus, a 

 botanist of the sixteenth century, 

 gathered our British species.) 



I. S. Valerdndi (Brookweed). 

 — The only British species, a 

 smooth, pale green, herbaceous plant, with blunt, fleshy leaves, 

 and one or more terminal clusters of very small white flowers, 

 crowded at first, but finally becoming distant, resembling in this 

 respect the habit of some CrucijercB. — Watery places ; common. — 

 Fl. June — September. Perennial. 

 Y 2 



sAmolus vai.erAndi {Brook-Mccd). 



