80 



BRITISH BOTANY. 



Capsule opening at the summit by four valves. Seeds com- 

 pressed, lenticular; embryo straight. 



Sect. I. Bracts of the calycule at least half as long as the calyx-tube ; flowers 

 several. 



D. prolifer, Lin. — e.b. 956. l.b.s. 145. 



A. 3. C. 4. Lat. 50-53°. Alt. 50 yds. Tern. 51-48°. 



Stems simple or branching, slender, wiry, with prominent 

 knots, leafy. Leaves linear, rough on the edges. Stem-leaves 

 very small, tapering, enlarged at the base. Flowers few, in sessile 

 tufts, terminal, surrounded by a scale-like or chafF-like involucre 

 (the plant has two series of scales, viz. those surrounding the 

 truss of flowers, and two large, ovate, obtuse scales which enve- 

 lope the calyx) . Calyx cylindrical, with green angles and short 

 teeth. Petals a little longer than the calyx, with an ei'ect, ovate 

 limb, which is notched at the summit, much shorter than the 

 claw. Capsule elliptical, tapering at both ends. Seeds nearly 

 flat, shagreened, but not tubercular. 



In dry, gravelly and sandy places. Annual ; July— September. 



D. Armeria, Lin. Deptford Pink. — e.b. 317. l.b.s. 146. 

 A. 12. C. 25. Lat. 50-57°. Alt. 200 yds. Tern. 51-47°. 



Roots (biennial?) annual. Stems erect, pubescent, branched. 

 Leaves (lower ones) rather blunt, linear-lanceolate ; upper ones 

 linear; all somewhat downy. Flowers purple, in terminal or 

 axillary tufts of 3-8 in each. Bracts two, linear, acute, herba- 

 ceous, hairy, as long or longer than the calyx. Scales of the caly- 

 cule somewhat herbaceous, of the same form as the involucral 

 bracts, and about as long as the calyx. 



In dry, sandy, waste places. Not common. Annual or bien- 

 nial ; May- August. 



Sect. II. Bracts short; flowers few or sohtary. 



D. deltoides, Lin. Maiden Pink. — e.b. 61. l.b.s. 150, 150b. 

 A. 12. C. 40? Lat. 50-58°. Alt. 150 yds. Tern. 51-46°. 



Roots tufted, branching. Stems reclining at the base, roughly 

 puberulent. Leaves of the stem linear-lanceolate ; those of the 

 barren shoots shorter than those of the stem ; all more or less 

 rough. Scales of the calycule ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, about 

 one-third of the length of the calyx. Flowers purple, dappled 

 with white or deep purple. Petals toothed. 



In dry, sandy or hilly pastures. Perennial ; June- August. 



Var. /3, glaucus. Edinburgh, King's Park. 



