Spergula. ILLECEBRACE^. 107 



var. 1 : leaves usually shorter, or only a little longer than the internodes, somewhat mucro- 

 nate, slightly fleshy; seeds not margined. - Torr. 4. Gr. I. c. A. rubra, var. campestris 

 Lmn. ; DC. I. c. A. rubra, Bigel. ft. Bost. p. 179. 



var. 2 : leaves fleshy, usually much longer than the internodes, not mucronate ; seeds not 

 margined. — Torr. <^ Gr. I. c. A. rubra, var. marina, Linn. ; DC. I. c. A. marina Bisel 

 fl. Bost. p. ISO {excl syn. Sm.). ' 



Stems 3- 10 inches long, at first erect, at length diffuse, smooth or pubescent: the var. 2. 

 when growing in salt marshes, often nearly or quite smooth. Leaves about an inch long and 

 scarcely a line wide, in maritime situations semiterete and fleshy, but in dry places narrower 

 and scarcely succulent. Flowers axillary and solitary, and in terminal leafy cymules ; or in 

 leafy racemes. Pedicels reflexed after flowering ; those of the fruit about half an inch long. 

 Sepals scarious on ihe margin. Petals ovate, rather shorter than the sepals. Seeds some- 

 what reniform, compressed, without a trace of border. 



The first variety occurs in sandy fields, and is not common : the other form is very common 

 on the seacoast, and about the harbor of New-York ; usually in salt marshes, but sometimes 

 in wet sandy places. It grows along the Hudson as far as the water is brackish. Flowers 

 from April to November. 



Suborder SCLERANTHACE^. Link. The Knawel Tribe. 



Calyx of 4 - 5 sepals ; the tube urceolate. Petals none. Stamens 1, 5 or 10, 

 inserted into the throat of the calyx-tube. Ovary 1-celled, with a, solitary 

 ovule : styles 2, distinct and stigmatose on the inside, or united to the summit. 

 Fruit a utricle with a soUtary seed, enclosed in the indurated tube of the calyx. 

 Embryo curved around mealy albumen.— Small annual or perennial, diffusely 

 branched plants. Leaves opposite, destitute of stipules. Flowers small, usually 

 disposed in cymules. 



Thi« Bubordcr is more nearly related to Illecedbaceje than to Cartophyllaceje ; diffenDg from tho former chiefly in 

 the mduratcd calyx-tube, and in the want of stipules. 



14« 



