S6 THE PLANTAIN FAMILY. tLittMcltd t 



from 1 to 3 inches long. Male peduncles radical, about an inch long, 

 with a single or rarely 2 terminal flowers, and a small bract lower down. 

 Sepals narrow. Corolla like that of a Plantago, but with small lobes. 

 The stamens, which form the most conspicuous part of the plant, have 

 slender filaments, full half an inch long, terminated by large, ovate 

 anthers. Female- flowers concealed amongst the leaves, consisting of a 

 sessile calyx, split into 3 or 4 unequal sepals, enclosing a small ovary, 

 with a long thread-like style. Fruit a small nut. 



In mud and wet sand, on the margins of pools, in northern Europe, 

 extending far into the Arctic regions, but chiefly confined to moun- 

 tains in central and southern Europe. Appears to be widely distri- 

 buted in Britain, though seldom observed, for it often remains under 

 water without flowering, when its leaves become longer and grass-like. 

 Fl. summer. 



LXI. ILLECEBRACE-ffi. THE ILLECEBRUM FAMILY. 



Low herbs, either annual or with a perennial, sometimes 

 woody stock, and annual flowering branches, usually spreading 

 or decumbent ; opposite or rarely alternate leaves ; small 

 scarious stipules (rarely deficient); and small, often granular 

 flowers, in terminal or axillary cymes or bunches, rarely soli- 

 tary. Calyx shortly or deeply divided into 5, rarely 4 or 3 

 lobes or segments. Petals either as many, inserted at the base 

 of the sepals, or represented by as many small filaments, or 

 none. Stamens as many as the sepals, rarely fewer, inserted 

 between the petals. Ovary and capsule 1-celled. Styles or 

 sessile stigmas 2 or 3. Seeds solitary, with a curved embyro, 

 and mealy albumen. 



A'small Order, widely diffused over the globe, intermediate between 

 CaryophyUacece and Amarantacea, to which it appears on the whole the 

 most nearly allied, for the petals, except in Corrigiola, are reduced to 

 small filaments, which may be considered as imperfect stamens, or are 

 altogether wanting as in Amarantacece, thus placing the family amongst 

 Monochlamydce. 



Leaves alternate .... . . ... 1. CORRIOIOLA. 



Leaves opposite. 



Calyx with a distinct ovoid or globular tube .... 4. SOLKRANTHUS. 



Calyx divided almost to the base. 



Flowers green. Calyx without points .... 2. HERNIARIA. 



Flowers white. Calyx with 5 point* 8. ILLECBBRUM 



I. CORRIQIOLA. STRAPWORT. 



Annuals, with alternate leaves, and small white flowers ID terminal 

 cymes. Calyx of 5 divisions. Petals 5, oblong or oval. Stamens 5. 

 Stigmas 3, sessile. Seed solitary, in a small nut, enclosed in the calyx. 



