CARYOPHTLLACEiE. 117 



SPECIES I.-SAGINA MARITIMA. Dcm. 



Plate CCXLV. 



Eekh. Ic. FL Germ, et Helv. Vol. V. Caryoplu Tab. CCI. Fig. 4960, 

 S. stricta, Fries, Nov. FL Suec. p. 58. 



Stems numerous, slender, erect, or ascending ; the primary or 

 central one bearing flowers as well as the lateral ones, which 

 are commonly decumbent (but not rooting) at the base. Lower 

 leaves crowded so as to appear like a rosette, soon withering ; stem 

 leaves distant ; all fleshy, linear-strapshaped, flat above, semi- 

 cylindrical beneath, obtuse or apiculate. Cyme rather few- 

 flowered, lax. Pedicels always erect, long and slender, glabrous. 

 Sepals broadly ovate, concave, hooded and obtuse at the apex, 

 slightly spreading when the capsule is mature. Petals none, or 

 very small. Capsule erect, equal to or a little longer than the 

 sepals. Seeds irregularly semicircular-obovate, slightly rugose. 

 Whole plant quite glabrous. 



Var. a, gemdna. 

 S. maritima, Jord. Obs. sur pi. Plantes Nouv. et Crit. Frag. III. p. 48. 



Stems slender, with lengthened internodes, ascending, branched. 

 Capsule equal to, or a little exceeding, the calyx. 



Var. 3, debilis. 



S. debilis, Jord. 1. c. p. 50. 



Stems very slender, with lengthened internodes, decumbent 

 and much branched. Capsule generally a little shorter than the 

 calyx. 



Var. 7, detisa. 



B. densa, Jord. 1. c. p. 49. 



Stems slender, with short internodes, ascending, very much 

 branched. Capsule a little shorter than the sepals. 



Var. 8, alpina. 



Stems rather stout, wdth short internodes, ascending, slightly 

 branched. Capsule shorter than the sepals. 



On the shores of the sea and tidal rivers, and in places liable to 

 be occasionally overflowed. Vars. a and 3 rather common. Var. 



