Spergtila. ILLECEBRACE^. 107 



var. 1 : leaves usually shorter, or only a little longer than the internodes, somewhat mucro- 

 nate, slightly fleshy ; seeds not margined. — Torr. ^ Gr. I, c. A. rubra, var. campestris, 

 Linn. ; DC. I. c. A. rubra, Bigel. fl. Bost. p. 179. 



var. 2 : leaves fleshy, usually much longer than the internodes, not mucronate ; seeds not 

 margined. — Torr. ^ Gr. I. c. A. rubra, var. marina, Linn. ; DC. I. c. A. marina, Bigel. 

 fl. Bost. p. 180(excl. syn. Sm.). 



Stems 3-10 inches long, at first erect, at length diflfuse, smooth or pubescent : tlie var. 2. 

 when growing in salt marshes, often nearly or quite smooth. Leaves about an inch long and 

 scarcely a line wide, in maritime situations semiterete and fleshy, but in dry places narrower 

 and scarcely succulent. Flowers axillary and solitary, and in terminal leafy cymules ; or in 

 leafy racemes. Pedicels reflexed after flowering; those of the fruit about half an inch long. 

 Sepals scarious on the margin. Petals ovate, rather shorter than the sepals. Seeds some- 

 what reniform, compressed, without a trace of border. 



The first variety occurs in sandy fields, and is not common : the other form is very common 

 on the seacoast, and about the harbor of New-York ; usually in salt marshes, but sometimes 

 in wet sandy places. It grows along the Hudson as far as the water is brackish. Flowers 

 from April to November. 



Suborder SCLERANTHACE^. Link The Knawel Tribe. 



Calyx of 4 — 5 sepals ; the tube urceolate. Petals none. Stamens 1, 5 or 10, 

 inserted into the throat of the calyx-tube. Ovary 1-celled, with a solitary 

 ovule : styles 2, distinct and stigmatose on the inside, or united to the summit. 

 Fruit a utricle w^ith a solitary seed, enclosed in the indurated tube of the calyx. 

 Embryo curved around mealy albumen. — Small annual or perennial, diffusely 

 branched plants. Leaves opposite, destitute of stipules. Flowers small, usually 

 disposed in cymules. 



This snborder is more nearly related to Illecesraceje than to Caktofhyllaceje ; differing from the former chiefly in 

 ibe indurated calyx-tube, and in the want of stipules. 



14* 



