16 ENGLISH BOTANY. 



SPECIES VIII.-E PI LOB I UM TETR AGONUM. Linu.% 



Plate DIL 



Bab. Ann. Nat. Hist. Ser. II. Vol. XVII. p. 240. 

 E. adnatum, Griesb. in Bot. Zeit. 1852, p. 854. 



Stolons produced late in autumn, appearing above ground bear- 

 ing lax rosettes of green leaves. Stem erect, usually branched, 

 with 2 or 4 very conspicuous raised lines, glabrous below, clothed 

 with curled hairs above. Leaves shining, the lower ones opposite, 

 the upper ones often and the middle ones sometimes alternate, ses- 

 sile or sub-sessile, decurrent, strap-shaped or the upper ones strap- 

 shaped-lanceolate, gradually narrowed at the base, which is gradually 

 contracted into the decurrent lines on the stem, slightly narrowed 

 at the apex, strongly and irregularly denticulate-serrate ; midrib 

 and lateral veins depressed on the upper surface, prominent on the 

 lower. Bracts alternate, resembling the leaves. Buds acute. Flowers 

 numerous, erect before expansion. Calyx-segments narrowly trian- 

 gular-lanceolate, acute. Petals a quarter to half as long again as 

 the calyx-segments. Stigma club-shaped. Pods very long, slightly 

 curved inwards, clothed with short curled hairs. Seeds obovate- 

 ovoid, rounded above, obliquely sub-acute below, roughened with 

 minute tubercles. Plant glabrous except the upper part of the 

 stem, calyces, margins, and occasionally the veins of the upper 

 leaves. 



By the sides of ditches, on damp hedge-banks, and in open 

 places in woods. Apparently rather rare. I have seen it from the Isle 

 of Wight ; Beigate and Claygate, Surrey ; Poots Cray, Sydenham, 

 and Shooter's Hill, Kent ; and Professor Babington states that he 

 has it from Sidmouth, Devon ; Sussex ; Stapleton, Gloucestershire ; 

 Congeston, Leicestershire ; Cambridge; and Glen Palloch, Perth- 

 shire. It appears to be common in Essex, according to Mr. Gibson's 

 Plora of that county. In Scotland it must be very local or rare, as 

 I have never met with it. 



England, Scotland, Ireland. Perennial. Summer 

 and Autumn. 



Stem 1 to 2 feet high, slender, rather tough. Leaves 1 to 3 

 inches long, with the sides sub-parallel, having a shiny appearance 

 as if greased. Elowers small, pale-lilac, about \ inch across. 

 Pedicels rather long, frequently 1 inch or more when mature. 

 Pods very long in proportion to the size of the plant, 21 to 3j 

 inches. Seeds rather short, dark brown, with the coma adhering 



