196 TETRANDRIA— MONOGYNIA. Sherardia. 



by the 5-cleft corolla, which like that is radiant. Seed-crown of 

 5 brown bristles, accompanied by a shorty notched, membranous 

 ruffle, originating in the outer calyx. 



67. SHERARDIA Sherardia, or Field- 

 madder. 



Linn. Sp. PI. 50. Juss.l96. FLBr.171. Lam. t. 61. GcErtn.t.2A. 



Nat. Ord. Stellata. Linn. 47. Rubiacece. iuss.Sl.sect.l. 

 3 following genera the same. See Grammar 127. 



[The first section in Jussieu, to which all our genera belong, 

 is the genuine type of this order, as originally understood. 

 It is marked by a fruit consisting of 2 naked seeds, of a 

 roundish or perfectly globular figure, whose skin is either 

 smooth, granulated, hairy, or prickly, and in Rubia is 

 internally pulpy. Or this fruit may be considered as a 

 pair of Utriculi ,■ or membranous capsules without valves, 

 see Grammar 23 ; Rubia having a twin berry. The 

 latter accords with the sentiments of those who do not 

 acknowledge the existence of naked seeds. The leaves 

 are simple, undivided, 4 or more in each whorl ; their 

 edges prickly rather than serrated. Flowers axillary or 

 terminal, generally many together. 



These herbs are said to possess a diuretic quality. 



A prize was offered in 1 789, by the Academy of Sciences, 

 &c., at Lyons, for the best botanical and economical 

 treatise on the Linnsean Stellata ; and it was gained by the 

 late M. Willemet of Nanci, whose work, forming a small 

 octavo volume, was published at Strasburgh in 1791.] 



Cal. small, superior, of 1 leaf, with 6 segments or teeth, per- 

 manent. Cor. monopetalous, funnel-shaped ; tube cylin- 

 drical ; limb in 4, rarely but 3, equal, flat, acute seg- 

 ments. Filam. from the mouth of the tube, recurved. Anth. 

 roundish, 2-lobed. Germ, inferior, of 2 round or oblong 

 lobes. Style capillary, divided at the top. Stigmas bluntish, 

 or capitate. Seeds 2, naked, roundish or oblong, rough, 

 each crowded with 3 teeth from the calyx. 



Herbaceous, with branched stenis, and whorled leaves. Fl. 

 terminal, or axillary ; blue or yellow. 



1. S. arve?isis. Blue Sherardia. Little Field-madder. 



All the leaves whorled. Flowers terminal. 



S, arvensis. Linn. Sp. PL 1 49. Willd. v.\.574. Fl. Br.\7]. Engl. 



Bot. V. 13. ^ 891. Curt. Lond.fasc. 5. t.l3. Hook. Scot. 50. 



Fl. Dan. t. 439. Willem. Stell. 76. 



