CLASS V. ORDER V.J STATICE. 447 



Habitat. Bogs and wet places; common, especially in the North. 

 Perennial ; flowering from August to Qctober. 



The grass of Parnassus is one of our most interesting plants, re- 

 markable for the very curious structure of the scales at the base of the 

 corolla, and the stamens are remarkable, from their gradually one by 

 one bending over the stigmas, and discharging the pollen upon them ; 

 when one has performed this office it returns to its former position, and 

 another succeeds it, each stamen going through the same process in 

 like manner ; sometimes, but very seldom, two of them may be observed 

 bending over at the same time. After the whole of the stamens have 

 performed their office, the stigmas which were spreading now close up, 

 the ovules increase in size, the capsule enlarges, the numerous seeds 

 are perfected, and then the capsule bursts its sutures at the top for the 

 escape of its progeny to perpetuate and increase its species. 



ORDER V. 



PENTAGYNIA. 5 PISTILS. 



GENUS C. STATICE. LINN. Thrift. 

 Nat. Ord. PLCMBAGI'NE^:. Juss. 



GEN. CHAR. Calyx of one piece, funnel-shaped, plaited, dry, mem- 

 branous, persistent. Corolla of five petals, united at the base, 

 and bearing the stamens. Stigmas five. Capsule enveloped in 

 the calyx, with one seed. Named from crranty, to stop ; from 

 its supposed qualities in stopping dysentery. 

 * Flowers collected into a rounded head, inner scales of the involucre 



tubular at the base. (Armenia. De Cand.) 



1. S. Armeria, Linn. (Fig. 510.) Common Thrift, or Sea Gilli- 

 fiower. Leaves linear, single ribbed; scape simple, much longer than 

 the leaves, bearing a round head of flowers; calyx with a striated 

 hairy tube ; the limb membranous, with five ribs, terminating in short 

 bristles. 



English Botany, t. 226 English Flora, vol. ii. p. 115. Hooker, 

 British Flora, vol. i. p. 148. Armeria maritima, Willd.Liudley, 

 Synopsis, p. 170. 



Root long, woody, branched, dark brown, mostly very scaly and 

 rough at the top, with the fibrous remains of old leaves. Leaves nu- 

 merous, all radical, tufted, narrow, linear, lax, spreading, somewhat 

 fleshy, dark green, slightly channeled above, with a narrow raid-rib, 



