538 Alexander Goodman More Scientific Papers. 



2. S. media, Vill. Stems very much branched, spreading, ascend- 

 ing, of a handsome green colour, with an alternating line of hairs. 

 Leaves ovate, pointed, shortly stalked, the upper . ones sessile. 

 Peduncles axillary and terminal, reflexed when in fruit, ultimately 

 straight, usually hairy, as is the calyx. Petals white, cleft, scarcely as 

 long as the calyx. Stamens 3 to 5 (" sometimes 6-8 in the English 

 plant"). Anthers reddish, becoming brown. Styles nearly as long 

 as the stamens. Capsule oblong. Seeds rough [" bluntly tuber - 

 cled"]. 



A remarkable form occurs on a damp heath near Angers. Its stems 

 are numerous, prostrate, branched above only : the branches upright, 

 fastigiate, petals half the length of the calyx; styles 3, plumose; 

 stamens 3. 



Obs. The normal number of stamens in S. media is 5 ; these are 

 placed alternately with the petals, and each springs from a little round 

 basal knob or gland. Often one or more extra stamens are found oppo- 

 site to the petals ; but these do not appear to be provided with any basal 

 gland. Sometimes 2 stamens spring from the same gland, then the 

 number is very variable. Of some flowers I recently gathered, No. i 

 offered 5 normal stamens + i baseless extra stamen ; No. 2, 4 regular 

 stamens + i irregular ; another had 3 regular + 2 irregular ; a fourth, 

 5 regular + 3 irregular stamens. 



3. Stellaria Boraeana, Jord. S, apetala, auct. Herb pale green, 

 slender, turning yellow when exposed to the sun. Stems slender, with 

 the alternate line of hairs. Leaves small, ovate, pointed, the upper 

 ones nearly sessile. Pedicels axillary and terminal, those of the fruit 

 soon becoming straight. Segals close pressed, seldom opening, 

 covered with jointed spreading hairs, rather glabrous. Petals none. 

 Stamens 2 or 3. Anthers violet, turning brown, included. Styles 

 hardly any. Stigmas short, curved. Capsules ovoid, exserted. Seeds 

 small, pale, minutely rough, shagreened in the middle ["bluntly 

 tubercled "]. Dry sandy places. 



Capsule and calyx are often tinged with purple, in the Isle of Wight 

 plant. Sepals spreading under a hot sun only. 



(Derived principally from Boreau, " Flore du Centre de la France," 

 vol. II., p. 104). 



