Oatium.] XL. STELLATE. X13 



of Britain, but not a very common plant, and very rare in Ireland, for 

 although indicated in almost all Floras within the geographical range 

 of 0. palustre and G. saxatile, it is probable that varieties of the one or 

 the other are often mistaken for it. Fl. rummer. 



5. G. saxatile, Linn. (fig. 475). Heath #. A small perennial, 

 much branched, leafy, and often tufted at the base ; the flowering 

 stems numerous, weak, 5 or 6 inches high, rarely attaining nearly a 

 foot, and smooth, or nearly so, on the angles. Leaves usually 6 in a 

 whorl, sometimes 7 or 8, and occasionally on the barren shoots only 

 4 or 5 ; the lower ones small and obovate, the upper narrow, and, 

 when the stem lengthens much, mostly linear ; all have a little point 

 at the tip, the edges are smooth or rough, the length seldom exceeds 

 3 lines. Flowers numerous and white, in short terminal panicles, 

 the lobes of the corolla scarcely pointed. Fruits small, more or less 

 granulated. 



In open heaths and pastures, very common in western and central 

 Europe, but seldom mentioned in the more eastern Floras. In Britain, 

 one of the most universally distributed species. Fl. tummer. Varieties 

 with narrower leaves, more often 8 in a whorl, have been distinguished 

 as O. pusillum, Sm., sylvestre, Poll., montanum, Vill., commutatvm, Jord., 

 &c. [Of these 0. sylvestre (putittum, Sm.) is the most distinct, 

 having more rigid and erect stems with narrower awned and ciliate 

 leaves.] 



6. GK Mollugo, Linn. (fig. 476). Hedge G. Very near O. saxatile, 

 but on a much larger scale. Stems, from a perennial stock, 1 to 2 or 

 3 feet long, smooth and shining, and more or less branched. Leaves 

 usually 8 in a whorl, varying from obovate to oblong or linear, more or 

 less rough on the edges, and always terminated by a little point. 

 Flowers white and numerous, in large terminal panicles. Corolla 

 varying from 1 to 2 lines in diameter, each lobe bearing a little point, 

 sometimes rather long, sometimes scarcely prominent. Fruit small 

 and smooth, or slightly granulated. 



In hedges, thickets, and rich pastures, widely spread over Europe and 

 western Asia, but neither an Arctic nor perhaps a Siberian species. 

 Very common in England, but extends only into the southern counties 

 of Scotland, and very rare in Ireland. Fl. summer. In shady situations 

 and rich soils the stems are very straggling, swollen above each node, 

 with broader leaves, and spreading panicles. This is considered by 

 many botanists as the only true 0. Mollugo. In drier, more open 

 situations, the stem is more erect, the leaves narrower, the panicles 

 closer, and more oblong, and the points of the corolla more prominent. 

 This form is often described as one or more distinct species, under the 

 name of O. erectum, Huds., and G. aristatum, Sm. 



%. O. anglicum, Hnds. (fig. 477). Wall O. Somewhat resembles a 

 very slender O. Mollugo, but the root is only annual, and the flowers and 

 fruits are very much smaller. Stems about 6 inches high, the branches 

 almost filiform, spreading, and rough on the edges. Panicles spreading, 

 with filiform pedicels. Corolla white, very minute ; the lobes less 

 spreading than in most species, and not pointed. Fruits small, 

 granulated. 



In stony wastes, on old walls, &c., very common in the Mediterranean 

 region, and eastward tp the Caucasus ; less abundant in central Europe 



