THE PHYTOLOGIST. 



No. XI. 



APKIL, MDCCCXLII. 



Price 6d. 



Art. LVI. — On British Species and Varieties of the Genus Sagina. 

 By Samuel Gibson, Esq. 



, Hebden Bridge, February 10, 1842. 

 Sir, 



The following descriptive list is dravm up from specimens 

 of Sagina in my own herbarium : I have thus endeavoured to furnish 

 a few materials towards the history of this difficult genus. Probably 

 some of the forms may hereafter be considered distinct species ; but 

 not presuming to decide on that point, I leave it to the better judg- 

 ment of others. If you should consider the list worthy a place in the 

 ' Phytologist,' it is at your service. 



Saml. Gibson. 



To the Editor of ' The Phytologist.' 



Genus. — Sagina, Linnc&us, 

 Capsule 1 -celled, 4-valved, many-seeded: petals 4, (shorter than 

 the calyx or entirely wanting) : stamens 4 : styles 4 : sepals 4. 



1. S. apetala, Linn, Plant annual, glaucous, reclining but not tak- 

 ing root. Stems rough with scattered points : leaves, each tipped 

 with a very distinct awn or bristle, slightly combined by their mem- 

 branaceous bases, linear, about a quarter of an inch long, fringed 

 at the edges with jointed hairs : flower-stalks erect, smooth, about an 

 inch long : calyx ovate, obtuse, about one third shorter than the cap- 

 sule ; segments with narrow membranaceous margins : petals entirely 

 wanting: seeds nearly smooth, variable in shape, with their edges 

 crenate. 



On moist, barren, sandy ground. Common in many parts of Lancashire. I ga- 

 thered this plant in 1840, on the Bolton road, about two miles from Manchester; and 

 have specimens of it from Marple, &c. 



(3. stricta, mihi. Plant quite upright : stems and leaves ciliated 

 with jointed hairs : flower- stalks set with stalked glands : seeds 

 smooth, with their edges dentate. 



This variety diflfers from the above in being always upright, and having glandular 

 flower-stalks. On the muddy banks of the river Mersey, opposite Liverpool, in June, 

 1831. I gathered this plant in Wallazey Pool, in June, 1841. 



P 



