68 ENGLISH BOTANY. 



Rootstock perennial or biennial, thick and almost woody, pro- 

 ducing a few rather short barren shoots and erect flowering stems, 

 "wdth soft spreading hairs, and (as well as the caliccs) slightly viscid. 

 Lower leaves oblanceolatc or broadly elliptical, attenuated into long 

 footstalks ; upper leaves sessile, elliptical or lanceolate, acuminate. 

 Flowers rather few, slightly inclined, dioecious, in a dichotomous 

 cyme. Calyx at first elliptical-oblong, attenuated and not umbilicate 

 at the base, slightly narrowed at the apex, where there are 5 nar- 

 rowly triangular acuminate-obtuse teeth, and with 10 rather indis- 

 tinct nerves ; in fruit regularly ovoid, contracted at the apex. Petals 

 with the lamina3 obovate, deeply cleft into 2 broadly oblong lobes, 

 with 2 toothed scales at the base ; claw suddenly enlarged into 

 auricles on each side, where it meets the lamina. Styles 5. Gyno- 

 phore rudimentary, half the breadth of the capsule, that of the 

 male flowers a little longer and much more slender. Capsule ovoid- 

 conical, opening by 10 sub-erect or slightly-spreading teeth. 



In cultivated ground, borders of fields, hedge-banks, and other 

 open situations. Very common throughout Britain, as far North 

 as the Grampians, beyond which it becomes scarce, and does not 

 reach the extreme North of Scotland. 



England, Scotland, Ireland. Perennial or Biennial. Summer 

 and Autumn. 



Stem 1 to 3 feet high, leaves of the barren shoots and base of 

 the stem 3 to 6 inches long (including the footstalk), those about 

 the middle of the stem ellijDtical, attenuated at both ends, the 

 uppermost ones narrower and more approaching to lanceolate. 

 Plowers f inch long by 1 to 1^ inch across. Calyx usually pale, 

 with green veins, those which run into the teeth much more distinct 

 than the intermediate ones ; teeth narrow, plicate, acuminated to 

 the rather obtuse apex. Petals white or very pale rose-colour, 

 opening most fully in the evening, when they are slightly fragrant. 

 Capsule very large, as long as the calyx teeth, and often rupturing 

 the tube, hard and tough in texture ; the teeth not at all revolute. 

 Seeds small, roundish-reniform, with the angles not rounded oflF, 

 covered with small tubercles. "Whole plant covered with soft hairs ; 

 upper part of stem and calices slightly viscid ; leaves deep green, firm. 



It is to be regretted that Dr. Godron, in placing this species in 

 the genus Silene, has adopted Sprengel's very inappropriate name 

 of "pratensis," as the plant is never to be found in meadows. 



Wliite Campion. 



French, Lychnide Didique. German, Weisse Lichtnelica, 



