PEABLWOET SPFBBEY. 55 



wort is the first family in the Chickweed tribe, and it has four 

 British members. The Procumbent Pearlwort (Sagina pro- 

 cumbens), is a mossy-looking plant, which spreads its small 

 branches over neglected garden walks, or disused city paths, 

 mingles with the grass of the lawns, or insinuates itself into 

 the pots in a greenhouse. A cursory observer would say it had 

 no flower ; yet if you look close you will find small green 

 crosses terminating the branches during the whole summer. 

 These crosses are formed of the four sepals, which remain until 

 the fruit is ripe ; the petals are white, but much smaller than 

 the sepals, and very generally absent altogether. 



The Hairy Pearlwort (S. apetala), is still more frequently 

 petalless ; indeed, the absence of petals and the hairiness are 

 its distinguishing characteristics. Fanny brought these speci- 

 mens from a wall on the margin of Fowey harbour, and 

 she found the Sea Pearlwort (S. maritima), on the Looe 

 cliffs. This species differs more from the Procumbent and 

 Hairy ones than they do from each other; for its small 

 leaves are seated on the stem at more distant intervals, thus 

 taking off the mossy appearance ; and its flowers are not so 

 minute. 



The Mcenchia is a nearly allied plant, but with bright starry 

 flowers and spare foliage. It has also four sepals, four petals, 

 and four stamens. Fanny found it spangling the turf on the 

 moor above West Looe. 



The Umbelliferous Chickweed (Holosteum umbellatum), has 

 its pinkish flowers in a cluster. It is a rare plant, occasionally 

 found about ancient ruins. 



The Spurreys have five petals and sepals, and ten stamens. 

 The Awl-leaved Spurrey is a slender, half-procumbent plant, 

 with a great resemblance to the Sea Pearlwort. These speci- 

 mens came from Fowey. 



The Knotted Spurrey (Spergula nodosa), has erect branches, 

 and brilliant white flowers. It is a great ornament of marshy 

 places on our Yorkshire moors. 



