CLXXXIV. CYNOCRAMBE^l. 



645 



Paronychiece are also connected with Portulaceee by their curved ovule and farinaceous albumen ; but 

 the latter are sufficiently distinguished by their fugacious petals, usually several-celled ovary with 

 several-ovuled cells, habit, &c. They have some connection with Baselkce, which differ especially in 

 their twining stem, double calyx, dilated filaments, &c. Finally, they are linked with Polygonece by the 

 1-celled and 1-ovuled ovary and the nature of the seed, but, besides other differences, in Polygonece the 

 ovule is orthotropous. 



Paronychiece are dispersed over the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere [often inhabiting 

 deserts and very dry places]. Few are of use to man : the Rupture-wort (Herniaria glabra), an in- 

 digenous plant, living in sandy soil, was formerly esteemed as a diuretic and vulnerary ; it is now fallen 

 into disuse. 



Scleranthtts perennis, which grows in siliceous or granitic fields, is the food of the Polish Cochineal, 

 which long supplied the place of the Mexican Cochineal as a red dye. 



CLXXXIV. CYNOCRAMBEjE, Endlicher. 



An annual sub-succulent HERB. LEAVES petioled, the lower opposite, the upper 

 alternate, entire, penni-tri-nerved ; stipules cut, uniting the bases of the petioles. 

 FLOWERS mono3cious, sexes springing from different axils ; $ tracts 2-3, sessile, ebrac- 

 teate. PERIANTH of 2 antero-posterior leaflets, juxtaposed in aestivation, revolute 

 after flowering. STAMENS 2-20, inserted at the base of the perianth leaflets ; filaments 

 capillary, free; anthers at first linear, then sagittate, versatile, 2 -celled, dehiscence 

 longitudinal. ? FLOWERS generally 3, rarely more (the intermediate one usually 

 largest, the lateral sometimes imperfect), sessile, furnished with a posticous bract, 2" 



T. Cynocrambe 

 j flower-bud (mag.) 



Thelygonum Cynocrambe. 

 Upper part of the plant with 

 alternate leaves. 



T. Cynocrambe. 

 3 flower 

 (mag.). 



T. Cynocrambe. 



Lower part of the pli nt with 



opposite leaves. 



