128 ENGLISH BOTANY. 



hairs. There seems to he no difference in habit between the two 

 varieties which would justify their being considered even as sub- 

 species. Var. ^ I have only seen from Lancashire ; but no doubt 

 it is generally passed over on account of the microscopical character 

 of the difference between it and var. a. 



Corn Spurroj, or Yarr. 



French, Spargoute des Champs. German, Feld Sperk, or Spark. 



In most fields with light soils this is a common weed. In Germany, Holland, and 

 the Netherlands it is grown for fodder, and the seed is sown on corn stubbles to supply 

 a bite for sheep during winter. It is very much esteemed as food for cattle, and by 

 French writers is asserted to be equal to clover. It is said to enrich the milk of cows, 

 and to cause it to make good butter. Sheep fed on it are supposed to do better than 

 those fed on turnips. Hens eat Spurrey greedily, and it is believed to induce them to 

 lay a greater number of eggs. The seeds contain a large quantity of good oil, obtainable 

 by expression ; when bruised, they form excellent food for cattle. In Finland and 

 Scandinavia, bread has been made of the seeds of the Spurrey in time of scarcity. 

 This plant seems to be a favourite with farmers on the Continent : here, on the con- 

 trary, it is regarded rather as a troublesome weed ; so much so that in Norfolk it is 

 called Pickpurse, and is supposed by our farmex's to merit the name. 



GENUS XIV.— B PERGULARIA. Fers.* 



Sepals 5, spreading in flower. Petals 5, entire, sometimes absent. 

 Stamens 10, 5, or (by abortion) fewer. Styles 3 (more rarely 5). 

 Capsule with 3 (rarely 5) entire valves ; in the latter case alternate 

 with the sepals. Seeds obliquely reniform-roundish or -obovate, 

 flattened, brown or brownish black, sometimes surrounded by a 

 membranous marginal wing. 



Annual or perennial plants with the stems generally procum 

 bent, and opposite filiform-linear often fleshy leaves, having between 

 them searious stipules generally distinct, while in axils of the leaves 

 there are often fascicles of smaller leaves. Flowers pink or lilac, 

 in dichotomous cymes, sometimes reduced to false unilateral 

 racemes, with the pedicels spreading, reflexed after flowering. 



This is doubtless a distinct genus from Spergula, resembling 

 Alsine in habit, from which, however, the stipules separate it ; but 

 it is difficult to find technical characters. The styles being 3 or 5 

 is very unsatisfactory; Spergularia fallax (Lowe), which has 3 

 styles, is certainly a true Spergula. 



* The name Lepigonum (Fries) is inadmissible, as Spergularia was clearly charac- 

 terized by Persoon as a section of Arenaria (Syn. PI. Vol. I. p. 504) at an e.irlier 

 date. 



