CARYOPHYLLK& 6-3 



Ovary 1-celled ; styles 3. Capsule 3-valved. Seeds compressed, often 

 winged ; embryo annular or hooked. Lepigonwm, Fries. DISTRIB. Temp. 

 and warm regions ; often littoral ; species 3-4. ETYM. the diminutive of 

 Spergula. 



1. S. ru'bra, St. Hilaire ; leaves linear flat, stipules lanceolate cleft, 

 capsule as long as the sepals, seeds plano-convex angular tubercled. 

 Gravelly and sandy soils ; rare in Ireland ; fl. June-Sept. Pubescent and 



fmdular, annual or biennial. Stem much branched from the base ; branches 

 12 in., spreading, prostrate. Leaves |-^ in. Stipules connate, silTery, torn. 

 Flowers \ in. diam., solitary or in subracemose cymes ; peduncles short, 

 spreading or reflexed, erect in fruit. Petals rosy, shorter than the obtuse 

 lanceolate sepals. Stamens 5 or 10. DISTRIB. Europe, N. Africa, Siberia, 

 W. Asia to India, N. America. 



2. S. mari'na, Cambessedes ; leaves linear ^-terete, stipules deltoid- 

 ovate, capsule longer than the sepals, seeds plano-convex smooth or papil- 

 lose with or without a membranous wing. 



Sandy, muddy and rocky sea-coasts ; fl. June-Aug. A more fleshy species 

 than S. rubra, of which it may be ranked as a sub-species, with a generally 

 more woody rootstock and compressed branches. Flowers 3-^ in. diam. 

 DISTRIB. Europe, N. Africa, W. Asia to India, N. and S. America. 



Sub-sp. MARI'NA proper ; perennial, glabrous, pedicels shorter than the bracts, 

 flowers large, petals lilac or white as long as the sepals, stamens 10, capsules 

 longer than the sepals, seeds pale-brown papillose, all broadly winged. L. 

 marinum, Wahlb. Arenaria media, L. 



Sub-sp. NEGLEC'TA, Syme ; annual, pedicels as long as or exceeding the bracts, 

 petals rosy shorter than the sepals white at the base, stamens few, capsule 

 exceeding the sepals, seeds pale-brown almost smooth rarely winged. VAB. 

 1, negledta, proper ; glandular-pubescent, pedicels longer than the scarious 

 bracts, seeds papillose. VAR. 2, sali'na, Presl (sp.); pedicels equalling the 

 foliaceous bracts, seeds not papillose. VAR. 3, me'dia, Fries (sp.) ; pedicels 

 shorter than the foliaceous bracts, seeds not papillose. 



Sub-sp. RTJTES'TRIS, Lebel (not of Cambessedes) ; perennial, glandular-pubes- 

 cent, pedicels longer than the bracts, petals as long as the sepals rose-purple, 

 stamens 10, capsule equalling the sepals, seeds obovate dark-brown not 

 winged. Maritime rocks, rare ; Isle of Wight, Cornwall, Carnarvonshire. 



12. POLYCAR'PON, L. 

 Annual herbs. Leaves flat, apparently whorled ; stipules scarious. 



Flowers small, in crowded bracteate cymes. Sepals 5, keeled, entire. 



Petals 5, small. Stamens 3-5. Style short, 3-fid ; ovules many. Capsule 



3-valved. DISTRIB. Various warm and temp, regions ; species 6. ETYM. 



TTO\VS and Kapirds, from the abundant capsules. 



1. P. tetraphyl'lum, L. ; lower leaves in whorls of 4, flowers 3-androus. 



Channel Islands, Devon and Dorset, in sandy and waste places ; fl. JuneJuly 

 Stems 3-6 in., prostrate. Leaves $ in. obovate, upper opposite. Flower 

 J in. diam. DISTRIB. Europe, Asia, Africa, &c. 



ORDER XIII. PORTULACE.?. 



Herbs, rarely small shrubs. Leaves opposite or alternate, quite entire ; 

 stipules scarious. Inflorescence various. Sepals 2, imbricate in bud. Petals 4 



