loO QAIIUM. [cr.AS« IV. OBBEfl. 1, 



widely spreading their branches, and supporting themselves upon the 

 stronger plants which grow near, smooth, or more generally the angles 

 are rough, with reflexed sharp points, sometimes only slightly so, at 

 others much more. Leaves from four to six together, in rather distant 

 whorls, spreading, oblong or oblong-lanceolate, tapering at the base, 

 obtuse at the apex, sometimes but rarely with a short point ; the mar- 

 gins and midrib on the under side mostly rough, with points turned 

 towards the apex : the whorls, especially in the upper part of the stem, 

 of irregular leaves, having two opposite ones narrower and shorter 

 than the others. Inflorescence a terminal, ternate, wide-spreading pa- 

 nicle, each division having at its base two or more leaves. Flowers 

 white or cream-coloured, numerous, with broad, acute, not pointed 

 segments. Fruit quite smooth, frequently abortive. 



Habitat. — On the margin of drains, lakes, rivulets, and wet situa- 

 tions; common. 



Perennial ; flowering in July and August. 



G. Witheringii of Smith appears to have been first considered a 

 variety of the present species by Mr. W. Wilson, as quoted by Sir W. 

 J. Hooter, in his British Flora. The transition from the smooth to 

 the rough state of the plant, as Mr. Wilson has stated, may be fre- 

 quently observed on the margins of pools : indeed, the whole plant 

 varies so greatly, as at one time to be not higher than a few inches, 

 and very slender ; at others two feet or more, stout, and of a robust 

 habit. It turns blackish in drying, while the following, which grows 

 in similar situations, remains green. 



4. G. uligino' sum, Linn. (Fig. 225.) rough Marsh Bed-straiv, Leaves 

 six in a whorl, lanceolate, bristle-pointed, their margins, like the 

 angles of the stem, rough, with recurved prickles. 



English Botany, t. 1972.— English Flora, vol. i. p. 201.— Lindley, 

 Synopsis, p. 129.— Hooker, British Flora, vol. i. p. 66. 



Root small, with creeping underground stents. Stems weak and 

 slender, from one to two feet high, angular, the edges rough with re- 

 flexed bristles, branched and very brittle. Leaves pretty regularly six 

 in a whorl, except the terminal branches, lanceolate, tapering at the 

 base, with an acute discoloured point, which is terminated by a sharp 

 bristle ; the margins generally rolled back, and beset with a row of 

 recurved prickles ; and not unfrequently there is another less perfect 

 row near it, which are pointed in the contrary direction ; the midrib on 

 the under side is also rough, but less so than the margins: sometimes 

 the leaves on the branches approach an ovate, rather than a lanceolate 

 figure. Inflorescence in small, terminal, branched panicles of white 

 flowers. Fruit small, minutely dotted, seldom both perfected. 



Habitat,— Wet meadows, marshes, the sides of drains, &c. ; not un* 

 common. 



