Ajuga.] LABIATjE. 333 



produced late only ; radical leaves shortly pet ; oled ; calyx woolly with longer 

 teeth ; lower corolla-lip smaller, mid-lobe less cordate. — Distrib. Europe 

 (excl. Greece). 



3. A. Chamse'pitys, Schreber ; annual, villous, cauline leaves 3-partite, 

 flowers solitary in the axils of leaf-like bracts yellow. Ground Pine. 

 Chalky fields, local, Bedford, Herts, Cambridge, Essex, Surrey, Kent, and 

 Hants; (a colonist, Wats.) ; fl. May-Sept. Hairs long, scattered. Stem 3-6 

 in.; branches ascending from the root, densely leafy. Leaves, radical early 

 withering, petioled, ovate-lanceolate, entire or toothed; cauline 1-lf in., 

 spreading, lobes narrow-linear. Whorls many, 2-fld. ; bracts many times 

 longer than the flowers. Calyx hispid ; teeth narrowly triangular. Corolla 

 \ in. ; lower lip spotted with red. Nutlets large, oblong, deeply pitted. — 

 Distrib. From Belgium southd., N. Africa, W. Asia. 



Order LX. illecebrace^, 



Annual or perennial generally small, often tufted herbs. Leaves oppo- 

 Ite or alternate, quite entire (serrulate and exstipulate in Scleran'thus) ; 

 stipules scarious. Flowers very small, cymose, 2-sexual. Sepals 4-5, 

 distinct or connate, persistent, closing over the fruit. Petals small or 0. 

 Stamens hypogynous or perigynous, filaments short distinct or connate 

 anthers small. Disk or annular. Ovary free, ovoid, 1 -celled ; style 2- 

 rarely 3-fid, stigmas decurrent ; ovule 1, erect, or pendulous from a basal 

 funicle. Utricle enclosed in the perianth, 1-seeded. Seed globose re niform 

 or lenticular, testa smooth, hilum ventral or lateral, albumen floury ; 

 embryo straight curved or annular. — Distrib. Chiefly warm and dry 

 regions ; genera 17 ; species 60. — Affinities. Close to Caryophyllece and 

 Amaranthacece. — Properties unimportant. 



Leaves alternate. Petals 5. Stigmas 3 1. Corrigiola. 



Leaves when opposite not connate. Sepals green, obtuse 2. Herniaria. 



Leaves opposite. Sepals white, concave, with long points 3. Illecebrum. 



Leaves opposite, connate at the base. Petals 4. Scleranthus. 



1. CORRIGIOLA, L. STRAPWORT. 



Annual or perennial prostrate glabrous herbs. Leaves alternate, linear 

 oblong ; stipules scarious. Flowers minute. Sepals 5, connate at the 

 ise, obtuse ; margins membranous. Petals 5, small, white. Stamens 5, 

 srigynous. Style short, 3-partite ; ovule suspended from a basal funicle. 

 7 ruit crustaceous, 3-gonous, dotted or rugose, testa membranous ; embryo 

 mnular. — Distrib. Europe, Africa, temp. America ; species 5.— Etym. 

 Corrigiola, a little strap. 



C. littora'lis, L. ; leaves linear-lanceolate, stipules ^-sagittate, 

 mdy places, very rare, Cornwall, Devon ; fl. July-Sept. — Annual. Stems 

 many from the root, 4-8 in., slender, prostrate or ascending. Leaves f-^ 



