154 THE (ENOTHEKA FAMILY, [Ludmgia. 



In wet ditches, bogs, and pools, in central and southern Europe, 

 central Asia, and North America, not crossing the Baltic to the 

 northward. In Britain only known hitherto in three localities in 

 Hampshire and Sussex, and in Jersey. Fl. gummer. 



IV. CIROffiA. CIRC^A. 



Herbs, becoming perennial by creeping rootstocks from the base oi 

 the erect annual flowering stems, with opposite stalked leaves, and 

 small flowers in terminal racemes. Limb of the calyx of 2 divisions, 

 turned back whilst flowering. Petals 2. Stamens 2. Style distinct, 

 with a thick stigma. Ovary and capsule globular, pear-shaped, or 

 oblong, 2- or 1 -celled, with 1 seed in each cell. 



This pretty little genus consists of three or four species, spread over 

 Europe, temperate Asia, and North America, all so nearly resembling 

 each other, that, in the opinion of some botanists, they are varieties 

 of one. 



Plant more or less hairy. Capsule pear-shaped, with 2 seeds . . 1. C. lutetiana. 

 .^ Leaves perfectly glabrous. Capsule oblong, with 1 seed . . 2. C. alpina. 



1. C. lutetiana, Linn. (fig. 353). Common C., Enchanter's Nightshade. 

 Stems erect or shortly decumbent, and rooting at the base, 1 to 1 

 feet high, and, as well as the leaves and racemes, more or less clothed 

 with very short whitish hairs. Leaves on rather long stalks, broadly 

 ovate or heart-shaped, 2 to 3 inches long, rather coarsely toothed, of a 

 thin texture. Flowers white or pink, in elegant, slightly branched, 

 leafless, terminal racemes. Pedicels about 2 lines long, turned down 

 after flowering. Capsule small, pear-shaped, covered with stiff, hooked 

 hairs, forming a small burr. Seeds 2. 



In shady situations, throughout Europe and temperate Asia, except 



the extreme north, and in North America. Abundant in England and 



N^ Ireland, rarer in Scotland, but extending to Aberdeenshire. Fl. summer. 



2. C. alpina, Linn. (fig. 354). Alpine a Closely resembles the 

 common species, of which it may be a mountain variety, but is smaller 

 in all its parts, and usually quite glabrous, except the fruit. It is 

 seldom above 6 inches high ; the leaves are thinner, and often glossy ; 

 the capsules smaller, less hairy, much narrower, and usually contain 

 only a single seed, owing to the almost constant abortion of one of the 

 cell's. 



In woods, and stony places, chiefly in mountain districts, in Europe 

 and all across Russian Asia, often ascending to great altitudes, and 

 penetrating farther northward than 0. lutetiana, but apparently not 

 an Arctic plant. Abundant in Scotland, extending into the midland 

 counties of England, but disappearing in ,the south ; in Ireland it is 

 both in the north and in Cork county. Fl. summer. A large variety, 

 or hybrid, has sometimes been described as a distinct species, under the 

 name of C. intermedia, Ehrh., a name also occasionally given to smaller 

 States of (? t lutetiana. 



