96 BECANDRIA-TKIGYNIA 



III. TRIGYNIA. 



134. SILENE. 



1. S. infiata, stem erect, forked ; leaves ovate, acute ; flowers 

 copiously panicled, drooping, white; petals cloven half way 

 down, mostly without scales ; calyx smooth, inflated, reticulated. 

 Bladder Campion. 



Hab. Corn fields, by hedges and road sides. July. 7/ 



The plant is in general very smooth ; but a variety, densely 

 covered with short hairs, is occasionally to be found in 

 this neighbourhood. The leaves boiled have something of 

 the flavour of pease, and proved of great use to the inha- 

 bitants of the Island of Minorca, in the year 1 685, when a 

 swarm of locusts had destroyed the harvest. WITHERING. 

 It has been recommended for cultivation by BRYANT, 

 who observes, that our kitchen-gardens scarcely afford a 

 better flavoured vegetable than the young shoots when 

 boiled. They ought to be gathered when not above two 

 inches long. 



2. S. maritima, stem recumbent; leaves lanceolate; flowers 

 slightly panicled or solitary, terminal, white ; petals cloven, each 

 with a cloven acute scale; calyx smooth, inflated, reticulated. 

 Sea Campiwi* 



Hab. Sea coast common. Aug., Sept. 7/ 



No observation of our own leads us to believe this to be a 

 variety of the preceding. 



135. STELLARIA. 



1 . S. media, stems procumbent with a hairy alternate line on 

 one side; leaves ovate, single-ribbed; stamens from 5 to 10. 

 Common Chickweed. 



Hab. Waste and cultivated grounds. March Nov. Q 



2. S. holostea, stem nearly erect, rigid ; leaves lanceolate, fine- 

 ly serrated ; flowers large, white ; petals inversely heart-shaped, 

 twice as long as the ribless calyx. Greater Stitchwort. 



Hob. Woods, deans and hedge banks common. May, 2/ 



