258 PLUMBA&INE^J. [AKMERIA. 



regions ; genera 10 ; species about 200. AFFINITIES. Nearest toPrimu- 

 lacece, but distant. PROPERTIES. Astringent, unimportant. 



Flowers in a bracteate head 1. Armeria. 



Flowers in panicled unilateral cymes 2. Statice. 



1.. ARME'RIA, Willd. THRIFT, SEA-PINK. 



Perennial herbs. Leaves all radical, very narrow. Flowers pedicelled, 

 fascicled in small bracteate cymes, which are collected into a dense hemi- 

 spheric head ; involucre (formed of the connate downward prolongation of 

 the bases of the outer bracts) tubular, scarious, sheathing the top of the 

 scape downwards. Calyx funnel-shaped, scarious. Petals cohering at the 

 very base, persistent and covering the utricle. Filaments inserted on the 

 petals, base dilated. Ovary obovoid. ; stigma capillary, papillose. Utricle 

 with 5 hard bosses at the top, dehiscing transversely or irregularly below. 

 DISTRIB. Alpine, Arctic and maritime N. temp, regions, Chili ; species 

 30. ETYM. The monkish Latin Flos Armerice, applied to a Pink. 



1. A. vnlga'ris, Willd. ; pubescent or ciliate, leaves linear 1-3-nerved. 

 A* marit'ima, Willd. ; A. pubes'cens, Link ; A. pubig'era, scotfica, Boils- 

 sier ; A. durius'cula, Bab. ; Statice Arme'ria, L. 



Rocky and stony sea-shores and on lofty mountains, N. to Shetland ; ascends to 

 3,800 ft. in the Highlands ; Ireland ; Channel Islands ; fl. April-Oct. Root- 

 stock woody, branched. Leaves densely fascicled, 1-6 in., Y V"TV in. broad, ob- 

 tuse or acute, covered with impressed points on both surfaces, broader in 

 the alpine form (var. glanifo'lia, Syme). Scape 3-12 in., hairs spreading or 

 reflexed; heads -1 in. diam.; involucre ^-1 in., lacerate, outer bracts 

 shorter than the head, ovate, acute or produced into long brown or green 

 points ; inner oblong, obtuse, scarious ; pedicel |-J in., equalling the calyx. 

 Calyx decurrent on the pedicel, with 5 pubescent ribs, lobes cuspidate. 

 Petals | in., rose-pink or white, limb obovate. Utricle exceeding the calyx- 

 tube. DISTBIB. Europe (Arctic), Asia, N. America, Chili. 



2. A. plantagin'ea, Willd. ; glabrous, leaves narrow-lanceolate usually 

 3-5-nerved, calyx-lobes awned. 



Sandy banks, &c., Jersey ; fl. June-Aug. More rigid, stouter and larger than 

 A. vulga'ris ; leaves yV~i i n - broad, narrowed into long points, margins car- 

 tilaginous and undulate when dry ; scapes taller ; involucre longer and less 

 deeply cut ; outer bracts with usually a long herbaceous point exceeding the 

 head ; flowers darker, on shorter pedicels. DISTBIB. Mid. and S. Europe. 

 Syme describes a probable hybrid with A. vulga'ris, as growing with 

 them. 



2. STAT'ICE, L. SEA LAVENDER. 



Perennial herbs. Leaves all radical. Flowers shortly pedicelled, in 1- 

 or more-fld. 3-bracteate cymes, which are alternately distichously or 

 secundly arranged in branched panicles. Calyx obconic ; limb scarious, 

 5-lobed. Petals free or united at the very base. Filaments inserted on 

 the petals. Ovary obovoid or oblong ; styles free or connate at the base, 



