96 CARYOPHYLLACEJE. Arenaria. 



with a slight notch, twice the length of the oblong, obtuse, membranaceously margined, nerve- 

 less sepals. — Spreng. syst. 2. p. 402 ; Torr. ^ Gr. fl. N. Am. 1. p. 180. Stellaria Groen- 

 landica, Retz.; DC. prodr. 1. p. 398. Arenaria glabra, Torr. fl. I. p. 455. {excl. syn.) ; 

 Bigcl. fl. Bost. p. 180. Alsine glabra, Fenzl, I. c. (in part). 



Stems numerous, 2-4 inches high, slender. Leaves 3-5 lines long, not rigid, erect or 

 spreading. Flowers one-third of an inch in diameter. Sepals somewhat gibbous at the base. 

 Capsule about as long as the calyx, oblong, acute. Seeds compressed, roundish-ovoid, with 

 a short beak. 



Crevices of rocks on the highest summits of the Shawangunk Mountains. On Whiteface 

 Mountain, Essex county {Dr. Emmons). June - August. 



4. MCEHRINGIA. Linn. ; Fenzl in Endl. gen. 5235. M(EHRINGIA. 



[ In honor of Paul Henbt Gerard Mcehring, a German physician and botanist of the last century.] 



Sepals 4-5. Petals 4 — 5, somewhat perigynous. Stamens 8 - 10. Styles usually 3, 

 sometimes 2 or 4. Capsule splitting into twice as many (half) valves as there are stigmas. 

 Seeds rather few, smooth and shining ; the umbilicus distinctly strophiolate. 



1. McEHRiNGiA LATERIFLORA, Fenzl. Latevol-Jlowered Mcehringia. 



Plant minutely pubescent ; stem erect; leaves oblong or oval, obtuse; peduncles lateral 

 and terminal 2- (rarely 3 - 4-) flowered, one of the pedicels with 2 bracteoles near the middle; 

 flowers pentamerous ; styles 3 ; petals twice the length of the sepals. — Fenzl in ann. Wien. 

 Mus. Arenaria lateriflora, LiwM. ; Pursli,fl. I. p. 311 ; Torr.fl.l.p.Ab^; Bigel. fl. Bost. 

 jj. 181; DC. prodr. l.p.4I2; Hook. fl. Bor.-Am. I. p. 102. t. 36 ; Darlingt.fl. Cest. p. 277 ; 

 Torr. 4- Gr. fl. N. Am. 1. p. 182. 



Stem 4-8 inches high, slender but somewhat rigid, simple or a little branched above. 

 Leaves about three quarters of an inch long, pale green, punctate, scabrous-pubescent on the 

 margin and midrib. Peduncles an inch or more in length, filiform, usually solitary ; but when 

 the stem is branching, sometimes 2 or more on one plant, each commonly but 2-flowered. 

 Flowers about one-third of an inch in diameter. Sepals and petals ovate-oblong, obtuse. 

 Capsule roundish-ovoid. Seeds reniform-orbicular, compressed, rugosely scabrous ; the 

 umbilicus distinctly strophiolate. 



In woods and along streams ; sometimes in dry sandy soils ; rather rare. June. — This 

 plant, which had long been regarded as an anomalous species of Arenaria, is, I think, correct- 

 ly referred by Fenzl to Mcehringia. It differs from the former in its somewhat perigynous 

 petals, the valves of the capsule splitting into two pieces, and in th» strophiolate seeds. 



