162 ENGLISH EOTAXr. 



j)rodnccd into a long slender mucro. Scapes 3 inches to 2 feet high, 

 generally commencing to branch about tlie middle, destitute of ordi- 

 narj' leaves, but vdth. a few bract-like scales at intervals, and at the 

 base of the branches. Spikes ^ to li inch long. Spikelets all pointing 

 upwards, but inserted alternately on opposite sides of the rachis, each 

 with 3 bracteoles, of which the outer one is broadly herbaceous on the 

 back, pointed and indistmctly keeled, or sometimes rounded on the 

 back, with white scarioue margins ; the inner or intermediate one nearly 

 wholly scarious and white, and about the same length as the outer; 

 the third or innermost (which is directly above the outer one) is twice 

 as long, and with a large herbaceous portion on the back, but broadly 

 white and scai'ious on the apex and margins. The calyx is funnel- 

 shaped, with 5 ribs; the limb scarious, white, generally tinged with 

 bluish-purple at the time of flowering; the segments plaited. Corolla 

 I inch long; petals oblanccolate, obtuse, bright purplish-blue. Fruit 

 shorter tlian the calyx limb, the summit marked vnth 5 projecting 

 radiating lines. 



I am unable to distinguish IMediterranean specimens of S. " sero- 

 tina," Gren. & Godr., from those collected by myself at Northfleet on 

 the banks of the Thames, and others which have been sent me from 

 various parts of the southern coast; but I believe these specimens 

 differ from the ordinary form merely in luxuriance, and that the more 

 luxuriant the plant is, the more lax and pyramidal the panicle becomes : 

 in \'isiting the same station in different years I liave observed that 

 when the salt mai"sh was drier than usual, the panicle had a tendency 

 to revert to the commoner form. The plant distributed by Reichenbach, 

 and figured as S. serotina by the younger Reichenbach in the Icones 

 Floras Germanicaj, is Boissier's S. Limonium, var. macroclada, which 

 seems to have much better claims to be considered distinct, as a sub- 

 species of S. Limonium, but this appears to be quite a southern form, 

 though often confounded with the variety described above. 



Great Sea Lavender. 



French, Stailce Limonkim. German, adder Wiederstoss. 



This is among the very few handsome flowers of the sea coast, and is often 

 gathered from the muddy shore or salt marsh to deck the winter nosegay ; for it 

 retains its form and colour for many months, owing to the diy nature of its lovely 

 flowers, which scorn made of a delicate membrane. It is of an astringent nature, and 

 may be advantageously employed when medicines of that kind are indicated. 



(?) Sib-Species II.— Statice Baliusiensis. Fries. 



Plate MCLVIII. 



Eekh, Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. XVH. Tab. MCXL. Fig. 2. 



S. Limonium, Linn. Herb. (!) 



S. Limonium, var. Bcnth. Handbk. Brit. Fl. ed. ii. p. 377. 



Leaves oblanccolate or strapsliaped-oblanccolatc. Scapes branched 

 in the upper half or two-thirds, Spikelets 1- or 2-flowered, arranged 



