100 ENGLISH BOTANY. 



below into a short funnel-sliaped tube. Petals inserted on a peri- 

 gynous ring with the stamens. Seeds very minute, reddish brown, 

 rugose, with faint elevated ridges. Plant somewhat succulent, 

 very pale glaucous green, quite glabrous except a few hairs at the 

 base of the leaf. 



This plant belongs to the genus Larbrca, as defined by St. Ililaire. 

 It is distinguished by the base of the calyx being a short funnel, 

 formed by the union of the sepals, as it is usually called : it is, 

 however, more probable that the funnel is the excavated apex 

 of the peduncle, or rather an excavated torus, as in the genus 

 Escholtzia. 



" WJien growing on dry ground, as it may occasionally be seen 

 upon banks of earth thrown up in clearing out watercourses," 

 Mr. H. C. "Watson observes that " this species forms a sort of tuft 

 with A^ery numei'ous branches ; and it then assumes very much the 

 semblance to a Paronychia" (Cyb. Brit. Vol. I. p. 225). 



Bog or Foimtain Stitchioort. 



German, Sump/ TogdJcraut. 



GENTJS IX.— K R E N A R I A. Linn. 



Sepals 5, somewhat spreading in flower. Petals 5, entire and 

 very obscurely emarginate. Stamens 10 (more rarely only 5 or 8). 

 Styles usually 3 (more rarely 4). Capsule about as long as the 

 sepals, ovoid, straight, dry, 1-cclled, opening at the apex by twice 

 as many teeth or valves as there are styles. Seeds numerous, 

 shagreened, and destitute of a strophiole, or smooth and with a 

 strophiole. 



Small annual or perennial herbs, often procumbent and diffusely 

 branched, glabrous or pubescent. Leaves small, ovate or elliptical 

 in the British species, but linear in some foreign ones. Plowcrs 

 white, in dichotomous cymes, which are sometimes reduced to 

 solitary flowers. 



The generic name comes from the word arena, sand, on which many of the plants 

 are found. 



Section I.— MCEHBINGIA. Fenzl. 



Sepals 4 or 5. Petals 4 or 5. Stamens 8 or 10 (more rarely 

 5). Styles 2 or 3 (rarely 4). Capsule opening by twice as many 

 recurved valves as there are styles. Seeds nearly smooth, shining, 

 with a strophiole at the hilum. 



