CLASS X. ORDER III. ] ALSINE. 63d 



between them. Styles very short, stigmas spreading. Capsule cylin- 

 drical, as long, or rather longer than the persistent calyx, opening with 

 three valves. Seeds small, brown, compressed, kidney-shaped, and 

 rough, with elevated points. 



Habitat. Rocks and dry mountainous pastures. In the North of 

 England and Wales ; abundant on Arthur's Seat, and other places 

 about Edinburgh, Mael Dun Crosk, Breadalbane, but not found in the 

 West of Scotland. Trap rocks on Magilligan, County of Derry, be- 

 tween Luneagh Castle, and Kilferna, County of Clare. Dr. Osborne. 

 Isle of Arran. Mr. R. Ball. 



Perennial; flowering in May and June. 



5. A. rubel'la, Wahl. (Fig. 722.) Alpine Alsine. Stems numerous, 

 erect, very leafy below, single flowered ; leaves linear, obtuse, three 

 ribbed; segments of the calyx lanceolate, acute, three ribbed; petals 

 obovate, with a short claw, shorter than the calyx ; capsule cylin- 

 drical, as long as the calyx. 



Arenaria rubella. Hook, in Parry's 2d Voy. A pp. English Flora, 

 vol. ii. p. 309. Don in English Botany Suppl. t. 2638. Hooker, 

 British Flora, vol. i. p. 210. A. hirta, Wormskjold De Cand. Prod, 

 p. 1. p. 405. Lindley, Synopsis, p. 49. 



Root long, fibrous, branched. Stems numerous, erect, simple, or 

 branched, very leafy below, and forming dense patches, short, round, 

 smooth or hairy, flowering stems erect, round, mostly simple, slender, 

 and more or less clothed with glandular pubescence. Leaves below 

 very numerous, crowded, linear, obtusely pointed, united at the base, 

 those of the flowering stems distant, ovate, acute, united at the base 

 into a short tube, all three ribbed at the back, and more or less fringed 

 or scattered over with simple or glandular hairs. Flowers terminal, 

 solitary, very rarely there is also a lateral one. Calyx of five lanceolate 

 acutely pointed segments, with a pale thin membranous margin, three 

 ribbed, smooth or downy. Petals white, obovale, with a short claw 

 a little shorter than the calyx. Stamens with awl-shaped filaments, 

 inserted into a glandular disk, as long as the petals. Anthers ovate, 

 two celled, reddish. Styles very short, three, four, or five. Capsule 

 cylindrical, rather longer than the calyx, opening with three, four, or 

 sometimes with five valves. Seeds small, brown, compressed, kidney- 

 shaped, roughish, with elevated points, numerous. 



Habitat. Rocks and stones on alpine mountains. Near the summit 

 of the Breadalbane mountains, in Scotland; very rare. Ben Lawers, 

 and Craigalleach. Dr. Earl. Ben Hope, Sutherland. Dr. Graham. 



Perennial; flowering in July. 



6. A. tenuifo'lia, Wahl. (Fig. 723.) Fine-leaved Alsine. Stem much 

 branched, dichotomous above; leaves narrow, subulate, three ribbed ; 

 pedicles long, slender; calyx segments narrow, subulate, three ribbed ; 

 petals ovate lanceolate, much shorter than the calyx; capsule three 

 valved, as long as the calyx. 



