TRANKENIACE^. Ill 



Tiolets, and has been divided into more than a dozen species. The fol- 

 lowing are the most prominent forms, which, however constantly different 

 they may sometimes appear, at others pass gradually into each other. 



a. Field Pansy {V. arvensis, Eng. Bot. Suppl. t. 2712). A slender 

 annual, from 2 or 3 inches to 6 inches or a foot long. The lobes of the 

 stipules and leaves narrow ; the petals small, sometimes shorter than the 

 calyx, pale yellow, nearly white, or the upper ones pale purple. A very 

 common weed of cultivation. 



b. Garden Pansy {V. tricolor, Eng. Bot. t. 1287). Larger than the 

 field P. in aU its parts, often biennial or perennial, with broader leaves. 

 The terminal lobe of the stipules larger ; the petals much larger than the 

 calyx, very variable in colour. It sows itself readily, but is apt to degene- 

 rate into the field P. 



c. Yelloio Pansy {V. lutea, Eng. Bot. t. 721). "Usually perennial. 

 Foliage of the compact forms of the garden P. Flowers large and richly 

 colom-ed, often yellow. In mountain pastui-es in Wales, northern Eng- 

 land, and western Scotland. V. Cnrtini (Eng. Bot. Suppl. t. 2693) is an 

 intermediate form between this and the garden P. 



X. THE FRANKENIA FAMILY, FRANKBNIACE^. 



Au Order limited to the genus Frankenia, -which differs from 

 the JPink family in the parietal placentas of the ovary and cap- 

 sule, and from the Hi/jjericum family in its definite stamens. 



I. FRANKENIA. FRANKENIA. 



Prostrate or spreading seacoast herbs or undershrubs, with opposite, 

 often clustered, small leaves, and no stipules, the flowers sessile in the 

 upper axUs. Sepals combined into a tubular calyx, with 4 or 5 teeth. 

 Petals 4 or 5, with long claws and spreading laminas. Stamens 4 or 5, 

 alternating with the petals, and usually 2 or 3 additional ones opposite the 

 petals. Ovary single, with one style, shortly 2-cleft or 3-cleft. Capsule 

 opening in 2, 3, or 4 valves. Seeds attached to the edges of the valves, very 

 small, with a straight embryo imbedded in albumen. 



A genus of few species, but widely spread over the seacoasts of nearly 

 all the temperate and warmer regions of the globe. 



1. Common Frankenia. Frankenia Isevis, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 205. Sea-heath.) 

 A diffuse, much-branched perennial, spreading to the extent of 6 or 8 

 inches ; glabrous or nearly so in the British specimens. Leaves crowded 

 in little opposite clusters along the branches, small, rather thick, and ap- 

 pearing hnear from their edges being closely roUed down. Flowers few, 

 sessile among the upper leaves, forming Httle terminal leafy heads or short 

 Bpikes. Calyx furrowed, about the length of the leaves. Petals small, 

 pink. 



In maritime sands and salt-marshes, common round the Mediterranean 

 id in central Asia, and extends up the western coasts of Spain and France. 



