I860.] BRITISH LEPIGONA. 197 



9. Lepigonum medium, Linn, and Fries. Siem,s round, thick- 

 ened at the joints. Leaves somewhat fleshy, semi-round, linear, 

 rather pointed, of a green colour. Stipules broadly triangular- 

 ovate, usually entire, dirty- white. Peduncles supported by leaves, 

 usually of the same length as the capsule, or sometimes twice as 

 long. Sepals oblong, or oblong-lanceolate, bluntish, little mem- 

 branous at their edges. Petals oblong, obtuse, shorter than the 

 calyx, whitish or rose, especially at the top, or lilac. Capsule 

 small, exceeding the calyx, ovate, rather pointed. Seeds trique- 

 trous, rounded, obovate, wingless, or rarely winged, furnished 

 with a slightly raised border. 



Herbs, very smooth ; root said to be biennial. 



Occurs in damp, well-watered places, on the banks of rivers 

 and of field-ditches, in streets, etc. ; also by the sea-shore. In 

 Europe, North America, Africa. 



The dichotomy of the species is as follows : — 



1. Seeds tuberculate, rougli, usually wingless 2 



Seeds smooth, usually winged 7 



3. Koot annual 3 



Root perennial 5 



3. Capsule about equalling calyx ; panicle leafy 4 



Capsule 1|- times as long as calyx ; panicle leafless, or 



nearly so L. neglectum. 



4. Petals equaUing calyx ; stipules large, silvery . . . L. ruhrum. 

 Petals shorter than calyx ; stipules short, dull white . L. diandrum. 



5 . Stems rooting ; panicle nearly leafless L. radicans. 



Stems tufted, but not rooting ; panicle leafy 6 



6. Stems round; leaves fleshy, pointed; pedicels 3-4 



times as long as the calyx L. rupestre. 



Stem compressed ; leaves flat, bluntish ; pedicels not 



twice the calyx L. azoricmn. 



7. Eoot annual L. salinum. 



Eoot perennial 8 



8. Panicle leafless; seeds flat, all winged ; capsule twice 



as long as calyx L. mariniim. 



Panicle leafy ; seeds mostly wingless ; capsule slightly 

 exceeding calyx L. 



