Poly gala.} X. POLYGALACE^l. 57 



characterised as species. The most remarkable is P. amara, Linn. (P. 

 uliginosa, Reichb.), a small plant, with the lower leaves obovate and 

 spreading, precisely like some forms of the common variety, except 

 that the flowers are rosy, and the inner sepals or wings are narrower, 

 with their veins all simply branched, not anastomosing, as in all other 

 British varieties. It is a Continental variety, which had only been 

 found in Britain on Cronkley Fell, in North Yorkshire ; but a blue- 

 flowered form (P. austriaca, Crantz) has been detected in Kent by Mr. 

 Duthie. [Five British species of Polygala (or three, with two varieties 

 of one of them) are now generally recognised : 1. P. vulgaris, Linn., 

 with scattered leaves, and the veins of the wings copiously netted ; of 

 this there are two varieties, P. oxyptera, Reichb., with flexuous branches, 

 linear leaves, and cuneate wings shorter than the capsule ; found in dry 

 sandy and rocky places ; and P. depressa, "\Vend (serpyllacea, Weih., 

 ciliaia, Lebel), with sub-opposite distribous leaves, and broad wings ; a 

 common form. 2. P. calcarea, F. Schultz, with rosulate radical leaves, 

 branches umbellately spreading from the root, the veins of the wings 

 sparingly or not at all netted, and an obcordate capsule ; a native of 

 dry rocky places in South-east England. 3. P. amara, Linn., much the 

 smallest species, with rosulate spathulate radical leaves, axillary flower- 

 ing branches, narrow wings, with nearly simple veins, and an orbicular 

 capsule. Of this there are two very different looking forms, namely, P. 

 amara, Linn, (uliginosa, Fries.), a mountain plant with pink flowers, found 

 only on Cronkley Fell in Yorkshire, where it is extremely rare, and a 

 larger blue-flowered plant, P. austriaca, Crantz, found only in Kent. 

 Owing to the variability of their characters, as found in exotic speci- 

 mens, Bentham regarded all these as forms of P. vulgaris.] 



XL FRANKENIACEJE. THE FRANKENIA FAMILY. 



An Order limited to the genus Frankenia, which differs 

 from the Caryophyllacece in' the parietal placentas of its ovary 

 and capsule, and from Hyp&ricinece in its valvate calyx and 

 definite stamens, and in its habit. 



I. FRANKENIA. FRANKENIA. 



Prostrate or spreading sea-coast herbs or undershrubs, with opposite 

 often clustered, small leaves, and no stipules, the flowers sessile in the 

 upper axils. Sepals combined into a tubular calyx with 4 or 5 teeth. 

 Petals 4 or 5, with long claws and spreading laminas. Stamens 4 or 5, 

 alternating with the petals, and usually 2 or 3 additional ones opposite 

 the petals. Ovary single, with one style, shortly 2-, 3-, or 4-cleft. Cap- 

 sule opening in 2, 3, or 4 valves. Seeds attached to the centre of the 

 valves, very small, with a straight embryo imbedded in albumen. 



A genus of few species, but widely spread over the sea-coasts of nearly 

 all the temperate and warmer regions of the globe. 



1. F. leevis, Linn. (fig. 128). Sea-heath. A diffuse, much-branched 

 perennial, spreading to the extent of 6 or 8 inches ; glabrous or nearly 

 so in the British specimens. Leaves crowded in little opposite clusters 

 along the branches, small, rather thick, and appearing linear from their 

 edges being closely rolled down. Flowers few, sessile among the upper 



