202 
ON ALSINE PALLIDA, Dum. 
By Cuanues C. BaniwcGToN, M.A., F.R.S. 
In the ‘Bulletin de la Société R. de Botanique de Belgique’ (ii. 
43) M. Piré has attempted to show that the d/sine pallida, Dum., 
ought, together with its allies, to be separated from the genus Stellaria, 
and called Ælsine. In this he is following the example of Du Mortier, 
who thus arranged them in the year 1827 (Prod. Fl. Belg. 109). He 
also directs our attention to the fact that this is the group upon which 
Linnzus intended to confer the name of 4/sine. M. Piré likewise en- 
deavours to prove that the 4. pallida is specifically distinct from the 
A. media (Stell. media, Vill.). He says that it “is known at a glance 
by its small size, yellowish-green colour, and prostrate stems. It is 
distinguished from 4. media, Linn., by its want of petals, its two or 
very rarely three stamens, the form and colour of its seeds, and its very 
characteristic stigmas, which are arcuate and recurved over the ovary. 
Also the peduncles of the fruit are always straight. The flower never 
expands, but fertilization takes place within the closed calyx, which 
at that time is nearly sessile. As soon as the fertilization is perfected, 
the peduncle begins to lengthen, and the capsule to increase rapidly in 
size, but the sepals continue closely adpressed. The capsule ultimately 
falls, still enveloped in the calyx by an articulation at the top of the 
peduncle.” Tt should be stated that this is an abstract, not translation 
of M. Piré’s observations. 
On this it may be remarked that S. media is not unfrequently found 
with prostrate stems: it usually, but certainly not always, has petals ; 
occasionally petaliferous plants of it have only two or three stamens» 
and its styles are sometimes undistinguishable from those of 4. pallida, 
Dum. Also the seeds do not seem to have that constant difference in 
shape and colour which is attributed to them by M. Piré 
The fruitstalks of 4. pallida curve strongly déviinadi after fertili- 
zation has taken place, but become quite straight and upright when 
the seeds are nearly ripe. Those of S. media pass through similar 
changes 
Piré believes that the calyx is always closed; Boreau that it rarely 
opens. In bright sunshine it certainly does slightly expand, so as to 
render the ovary and stamens clearly visible. In dull weather the 
