THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. By7 
Spergularia, Persoon. Etym. The diminutive of Spergula, from 
Spargo, alluding to the seeds being widely scattered. 
S. rubra, Camb. Vern. name, Sand-wort, Spurrey. Flowers 
September to January. Distributed. Except the Arctic and 
Tropic zones extends to nearly all countries. 
Stellaria, L. Etym. from stella, indicating the star-shaped 
spreading of the corolla. Vern. name, Star-wort, Stitch-wort. 
S. pungens, Brongn. Flowers September to December, Distributed 
Tasmania. 
S. media, Villars, Chiekweed. Flowers nearly all the year round. 
Distributed, through cultivation dispersed over nearly all 
temperate and arctic regions. Naturalized. 
Uses.—Formerly in repute for Phthisis, dysentery, hemorrhage 
and diseases of the skin, &c. Poultry and small birds are fond of 
the whole plant, especially the seeds. 
Cerastium, L. EHtym. From the Greek cépac (keras), alluding to 
the curved capsules of some species. Vern. name, Mouse-Har 
Chickweed. 
€. glomeratum, Thuellier. Syn., C.vulgatum, L. Flowers nearly all 
the year round. Analien. Distributed all temperate and 
cold regions. 
Spergula L. Etym. From spargo, in allusion to the scattering of 
its seeds. Vern., name, Spurrey. 
S. arvensis, L Corn or Field Spurrey. Flowers September to 
March. An alien. Distributed Arctic Europe, North Africa, 
West Asia, to North West India. Introduced in North 
America. 
Uses.—Cattle are fond of this plant. 
Polycarpon, L. Htym From the Greek, zo4uc (polus) and kapros 
(karpos), in allusion to the abundant capsules. Vern. name 
All seed. 
P. tetraphyllum, L. Flowers November to March. Distributed. 
Almost universally dispersed within the warm and temperate 
Zone. 
Silene, L. Etym. From the Greek eéadoy (sialon), saliva alluding 
to the viscidity of many species. 
S. gallica, L. Flowers September to January. An alien. 
Distributed. Represented in most cultivated regions. There 
is a variety the Silene quinquevulnera, L., with petals entire 
and spotted with red. Frequently growing with S. gallica. 
S. pendula, L. Flowers October, November. Probably escaped 
from the gardens. Native of Sicily. 
