102 DECANDRIA PENTAG^NIA. 



5. C. arvense, stems recumbent and matted at the base ; leaves 

 linear-lanceolate, bluntish, fringed at the base; flowers large,, 

 white ; petals twice the length of the calyx ; capsule shorter. 

 Field CUckweed. 



Hob. Dry gravelly banks, borders of fields, and road-sides, 

 frequent. Near King's Mount Bastion ; Castle-banks, 

 Thomp. Spittal and Scrammerston Links, &c. Mav, 

 Aug. If 



This species is common on all the Border between this and 

 Kelso, though it appears to be rare in other districts of 

 Scotland. 



142. SPERGULA. 



1. S. arvensis, leaves whorled, linear ; flowers white, in a loase 

 panicle, their stalks reflexed when in fruit. Corn Spurrey. 



Hob. Sandy corn-fields, common. June, July. () 



GERABDE mentions that the Spurrey is sown in Brabant, 

 Holland and Flanders, " of purpose to fatten cattel, and to 

 cause them to give much milke ;" and it would seem the 

 practice is still continued. In Nor v, ay, in times of scar- 

 city, the seeds are ground and baked along with a small 

 proportion of corn. The bread is blackish, but not bad. 



The flowers are very sensible to atmospheric changes. 

 We have seen a field, whitened with its numerous blos- 

 soms, have its appearance quite changed by the petals 

 closing on a black cloud passing over, and discharging a 

 few drops of rain. The variety with five stamens is not 



2. S. nodosa^ stems numerous, slender, spreading, 36 inches 

 long, beset with numerous pairs of short, smooth, awl-shaped 

 leaves, accompanied by axillary tufts of smaller ones ; flowers 

 large, white, few together, on simple stalks towards the top of 

 each stem. Knotted Spurrey. 



Hab. Moist sandy or turfy ground, common in this neigh -> 

 bourhood. Links at Bamborough and Holy Island, 

 Winch. Boggy field west of the Steps-of-Grace Farm- 

 house ; Goswick Links, Thomp. Yarrowhaugh ; and 

 abundant on all our moors. July, Aug. H 



