666 SPERGULA. [CLASS X. ORDER IV. 



but in Holland, Germany, France, &c. it is often sown with the corn, 

 for the purpose of affording a supply of food to sheep and cattle when 

 turned into the stubble, and it is said to improve the flavour of the 

 mutton, and makes a richer milk and tiner flavoured butter. The 

 seeds, as well as the whole plant, are a very favourite food of fowls, and 

 are thought to cause them to lay a greater number of eggs, and to 

 improve the flavour. It does not, however, appear that Spurrey 

 could be cultivated with us with any great advantage, except as it 

 appears to be a very nutritive plant, grows quickly, and flourishes well 

 on poor sandy soil ; it might with some advantage be encouraged on 

 waste lands. In Norfolk it is called pick-purse, and in Scotland it is 

 commonly known by the name of yarr. 



** Leaves opposite, united at the base. 



2. S. nodo'sa, Linn. (Fig. 746.) Knotted Spurrey. Leaves awl- 

 shaped, opposite, united at the base, without stipules, smooth, the 

 upper ones with crowded fascicles of leaves from the axis; pedicles 

 erect in flower ana 1 fruit ; petals much longer than the calyx. 



English Botany, t. 694. English Flora, vol. ii. p. 338. Hooker, 

 British Flora, vol. i. p. 218. Lindley, Synopsis, p. 48. 



Root of slender branched fibres. Stems numerous, slender, simple 

 or branched, erect, spreading or prostrate, roundish, or somewhat 

 angular, quite smooth, numerously jointed, each joint with a pair of 

 opposite linear awl-shaped leaves, united with a membranous base, 

 without stipules, about half an inch long, the upper ones only bearing 

 from the axis a fascicle of short crowded leaves. Flowers seldom more 

 than two or three on the upper part of the branches, rather large, pure 

 white, on slender erect pedicles. Calyx of five ovate pieces, with a 

 narrow pale membranous margin, the outer ones obtuse, the inner 

 pointed. Petals ovate, obtuse, with a short claw, pure white, about as 

 long again as the calyx. Stamens ten, on slender filaments, about as 

 long as the calyx. Anthers ovate, yellow, of two cells. Styles five, 

 spreading, with downy stigmas. Capsule ovate, of five valves, rarely 

 perfected. 



Habitat. Wet marshy places, especially in a sandy soil. 



Perennial ; flowering in July and August. 



3. S. saginoi'des, Linn. (Fig. 747.) Pearl-wort Spurrey. Leaves 

 awl-shaped, with a bristle point, opposite, united at the base, without 

 stipules, smooth ; pedicles long, erect in flower and fruit ; petals shorter 

 than the calyx ; capsule twice as loag. 



English Botany, t. 2105. English Flora, vol. ii. p. 339. Hooker, 

 British Flora, vol. i. p. 218. Lindley, Synopsis, p. 48. 



Root small, of branched fibres. Stems numerous from the same 

 root, erect, spreading or procumbent, from two to three inches long, 

 simple or branched, round, smooth, leafy. Leaves opposite, awl- 

 shaped, with a fine bristle point, united at the base, without stipules, 



