LINACE/E. 179 



but sometimes membranaceous and indehiscent, or drupaceous 

 with as many stones as there are carpels, or by abortion only one. 

 Seeds 2 or 1 in each coccum or stone, generally obovate, com- 

 pressed, with a tough membranous testa. Albumen fleshy, rarely 

 none. Embryo generally straight, with the cotyledons commonly 

 cval or elliptical, and the radicle superior. 



The British species all belong to the tribe Eulinere, which are 

 herbs or undershrubs with contorted fugaceous petals, perfect 

 stamens as many as the petals, capsule dehiscing septicidally, 

 or rarely 1-seeded and sub-iudehiscent. 



GENUS I.—R A D I O L A. Gmel. 



Sepals 4, 3-toothed, persistent. Petals 4, minute, caducous. 

 Stamens 4, with very minute teeth between them. Filaments 

 nearly free. Styles 4. Capsule splitting into 4 valves ; each valve 

 imperfectly 2-celled and 2-seeded, and splitting do-nm the middle. 



This genus consists of an extremely minute a- nual plant with 

 opposite leaves and dichotomously or trichotomously branched 

 stems terminating in corymbose cymes of very numerous small 

 sub-globular flowers. 



This genus was named by Dilleniiis from radiolus, a ray, because the cells of the 

 ripe capsule diverge like the rays of a little wheel. 



SPECIES I— RADIOL A MILLEGRANA. Sm. 



Plate CCLXXXVIII. 



Beich. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. VI. Hyp. Tab. CCCXXV. Fig. 51.52. 



Radiola liiioides, Gmd. Koch, Syn. Fl. Germ, et Helv. ed. ii. p. 141. Gr. & O'oJr. 



Fl. de Fr. VoL I. p. 284. 

 Liuum Radiola, Linn. Sp. PI. p. 402. 



The only known species. 



On damp heaths and commons, especially on sandy and 

 gravelly soils. Rather local, but generaUy distributed throughout 

 the kingdom. 



England, Scotland, Ireland. Annual. Late Summer 

 and Autumn. 



A much branched slender plant, 1 to 2 inches high. Stems 

 erect, thread-like, dichotomously branched througliout, frequently 

 with opposite branches below the forks. Leaves entire, about 

 •g^ inch long, ovate, acute, sessile, slightly succulent, 3- to 5-nerved 

 when dry. Elowers very numerous, placed in the forks of tlie 



