I860.] BRITISH LEPIGONA. 195 



sublinear filiform, rather pointed or awl-shapecl. Stipules broadly 

 ovate, abruptly pointed, usually entire, rather shining. Panicle 

 without leaves. Peduncles usually long, 3-4 times the length of 

 the calyx. Sepals oblong or ovate-oblong, somewhat pointed, 

 with a slightly membranous border. Petals broadly ovate, ob- 

 tuse, shorter than the calyx, rose or whitish. Capsule large, when 

 ripe exceeding the calyx, ovate, bluntish. Seeds small, trique- 

 trous-obovate, wingless, furnished with a raised border. 



Kemarkable for its leafless panicle, for its short and usually 

 fascicled leaves and crowded stems. 



''In sandy places" [but in Britain upon rocks and cliffs near 

 the sea]. , 



5. Lepigonum azoricum, Kindberg. Stems thick, compressed, 

 with their joints thickened. Leaves flat, not curved, lanceolate, 

 wider towards the tip, bluntish, the lowest somewhat fleshy. 

 Stipules very short, broadly ovate or reniform, bluntish, sometimes 

 cleft, of a dirty-white colour. Panicle without leaves. Pedun- 

 cles short, of the same length as the capsule, or when ripe 

 nearly twice as long. Sepals ovate, obtuse, slightly bordered 

 with membrane, usually furnished on the back with a short 

 nerve. Petals ovate, obtuse, shorter than the calyx, whitish. 

 Capsule of middling size, smaller than in L. rupestre, broadly 

 ovate, or subglobose, bluntish. Seeds obovate, subcompressed, 

 wingless. 



A very distinct species. Its leaves and stems are stouter than 

 in its allies : the leaves always fascicled. 



From St. Michael. [This plant may well be expected to occur 

 on the west coast of Ireland, or in the south-west of England. 

 Care should be taken not to pass it as a stout form of L. 

 rupestre.'] 



6. Lepigonum radicans, Guss. Nearest to L. rubrum, from 

 which however it differs in the following particulars. Its stems 

 are tufted and rooting at the joints, with their internodes short- 

 ened. Leaves bright green, longer than the internodes. Sti- 

 pules usually entire. Panicle with hardly any leaves. Peduncles 

 shorter than in L. rubrum. Sepals linear-lanceolate, rather 

 pointed, hardly at all bordered with membrane. Petals oblong. 

 Capsule subrotund-ovate. 



In damp grassy places in the mountains and in sandy places. 

 Occurs in Sicily, and also in the island of Gothland in Sweden. 



