44 CARYOPHYLLEJE. [Spergula, 



nature, as at Kilbarrick and other places near Howth. Fl. June, 

 July. It. 



Tribe II. Alsinea. De Cand. 

 Sepals 4 5, distinct, or cohering only at the base. 



6. SPERGULA. Linn. Spurrey. 



Calyx of 5 sepals. Petals 5, undivided. Capsules ovate^ 5-celled , 

 5-valved. Name from spargo, to scatter ; from the seeds being 

 so widely dispersed. Decandria. Pentagynia. 



1. S. arvensisy Linn. Corn Spurrey. Leaves whorled with 

 minute membranaceous stipules at their base; stalk of the 

 fruit reflexed; seeds more or less margined. Br. FL 1. p. 215. 

 E.Fl. v. i\.p. 336.S.pentandra, E. Bot. t. 1536. 



Corn fields, frequent ; especially in light sandy or stony soils. Fl. 

 June Aug. 1. Stems six to twelve inches high, swollen at the 

 joints. Leaves one to two inches long, narrow, terete, glabrous or a 

 little pubescent, in two fasicles from each joint, spreading in a whorled 

 manner. Panicle of many flowers. Petals white, ovate, rather 

 longer than the calyx. Stamens often five. Seed varying exceed- 

 ingly in the width of its margin. It is said that cattle are fond of this 

 plant, and that it is an object of culture in Holland. 



2. S. nodosa, Linn. Knotted Spurrey. Leaves subulate, op- 

 posite, glabrous, connate, the lower ones sheathing; upper ones 

 bearing clusters of young leaves ; petals much longer than the 

 calyx. Br. Fl. 1. p. 216. E. Fl. v. ii. p. 338 E. Bot. t. 694. 



Wet, sandy, and marshy place?, frequent. FL July, Aug. 1. 

 Three to four inches high, branched and decumbent at the base, where 

 the leaves are three-fourths of an inch long, but they gradually become 

 smaller upwards. Flowers large, white, three to four on the ter- 

 minal branches, peduncled. Whole plant glabrous. Calyx nerve- 

 less. 



3. S. saginoides, Linn. Pearl-wort Spurrey. Glabrous ; 

 leaves subulate, acute, awnless ; peduncles solitary very long ; 

 petals as long as the calyx; capsule twice as long. Br. FL 1. p. 

 216. E. FL v. Up. 338. E. Bot. t. 2105. 



On mountains near Bantry ; Miss Hutchins. On Bear Island, near 

 the Telegraph; Mr. J. Drummond. FL June, July. %. Stems 

 many from the root, procumbent below, two or three inches tall. 

 Leaves numerous and rather long at the base ; shorter, in remote pairs, 

 upon the stem. Flowers drooping before and after expansion. 



4. S. subulata, Swartz. Awl-shaped Spurrey. Leaves sub- 

 ulate, subciliated, tipped with a bristly point ; peduncles solitary, 

 very long ; petals and capsules as long as the calyx. Br. Fl. I. 

 p. 216. E. Fl.v. ii.p. 339. E. Bot. t. 1082. S. saginoides, 

 Curt. S. procumbens, Linn. 



Dry, gravelly, and stony places. Between Portstewart and Port- 



