Lceflingia. CARYOPHYLLACE^E. fj 



1. S. arvensis, Linn. Smooth ; stems several, a foot or two high : leaves fili- 

 form, numerous in apparent whorls, 1 or 2 inches long ; stipules small : flowers 

 white, the long pedicels at length reflexed : sepals oblong to ovate, 2 or 3 lines 

 long, equalling the petals, a little shorter than the broadly ovoid capsule : seeds 

 rough, acutely margined. 



Sparingly naturalized ; near San Francisco (Torrey) ; Mark West Creek, Bolander. 



7. LEPIGONTJM, Fries. SAND-SPURREY. 



Sepals 5. Petals 5, entire, rarely fewer or none. Stamens 10, or fewer by abor- 

 tion. Ovary 1 -celled, many-ovuled : styles 3, or rarely 5. Capsule 3-valved. 

 Seeds winged or naked : embryo annular. Low herbs, usually diffuse ; with seta- 

 ceous or linear fascicled leaves and scarious stipules ; flowers white or pink, pedi- 

 celled, in at length subracemose cymes. Kindberg, Monog. Lepig. 



A genus (known also as Spergularia) of 5 or 6 species, chiefly confined to the sea-coast or saline 

 localities ; widely distributed through the temperate zones. Species of rather difficult definition. 



1. L. macrothecum, Fischer & Meyer. Perennial, rather stout, often a foot 

 high, decumbent at base, glabrous below, pubescent above, the calyx more or less 

 tomentose : leaves fleshy, \ to 2 inches long, with large ovate stipules : flowers 

 large, subracemose ; pedicels 4 to 1 2 lines long, becoming reflexed : sepals 3 lines 

 long or more, equalling or exceeding the petals : capsule ovoid, a little exceeding 

 the calyx: seeds smooth, narrowly winged. Kindberg, 1. c. 16, t. 1, fig. 1. Sper- 

 gularia rubra, Torr. in Pacif. R. Rep. iv. 70. 



In salt-marshes from Marin County to San Diego. 



2. L. medium, Fries. More slender and diffusely branched than the last, an- 

 nual or biennial (sometimes perennial 1), more or less pubescent or often nearly 

 glabrous : leaves fleshy, to 1 inch long or more ; stipules short : pedicels to 6 

 lines long, often short, reflexed : flowers smaller ; calyx 1 to 2 lines long : seeds 

 smaller, smooth, wingless or narrowly winged. 



In saline localities from San Diego to Puget Sound and across the continent ; also European 

 and Asiatic. A very variable species as at present received. 



8. POLYCARPON, Linn. 



Sepals entire, scarious upon the margin. Petals small, hyaline. Stamens 3 to 5. 

 Ovary 1 -celled : style short, 3-cleft. Capsule 3-valved, several-seeded. Low dif- 

 fuse dichotomously branched annuals ; leaves flat ; stipules small, scarious ; flowers 

 small, cymose. 



Half a dozen species, in the temperate and wanner regions of both hemispheres. 



1. P. depressum, Nutt. Very small and much branched, scarcely an inch 

 high, slender and glabrous : leaves narrowly spatulate, in pairs ; stipules small and 

 narrow : flowers minute, in loose cymes, the pedicels with small bracts : petals nar- 

 row, much shorter than the sepals, entire : capsule globose, 6-1 2-seeded. Torr. 

 & Gray, Fl. i. 174. 



On bare sand-hills near San Diego (Nuttall) ; near San Bernardino, Lemmon. 



P. TETRAPHYLLUM, Linn, f., is found around the world, but is not yet known from California. 

 It is a larger plant in every way, the broad leaves sometimes apparently in fours, and the stipules 

 and bracts often conspicuous. 



9. LCEFLINGIA, Linn. 



Sepals 5, rigid and carinate, the margin scarious ; the three outer with a narrow 

 tooth upon each side. Petals very small or none. Stamens 3 to 5. Ovary 1 -celled : 



