124 THE PINK FAMIIT. 



inches to a foot long, resembling in some respects the ChicJcweed Stanoort, 

 but verj' diflereut in flower. Leaves stalked, ovate, pointed, half an inch 

 long or more, thin, of a light green, with 3 distinct nerves. Pedicels from 

 the upper forks of the stem, rather longer than the leaves. Sepals very 

 poiuted. Petals not quite so long, obovate and entire. Capside opening in 

 6 valves, the seeds few, shining, with a little white appendage at then* 

 hilum. 



In shady woods, along ditches and moist places, throughout Europe and 

 the greater part of Russian Asia, except the extreme north. Frequent in 

 England and Ireland, less so in Scotland. Fl. spring and summer. 



VIIT. MOBNCHIA. MCENCHIA. 



Small, but rather stiff, erect annuals. Sepals 4. Petals 4, entire. Sta- 

 mens 4 or 8. Styles 4. Capsule opening at the top, with 8 short teeth. 



A genus of two or three European species, with the numbers of parts of 

 the flower and entu-e petals of Pearlwort, the habit and calyx rather of 

 Stanoort, and the capsule of a C'erast. 



1. Upright Sloencliia. Moenchia erecta, Sm. 



{Sagina, Eng. Bot. t. 609.) 



A glabrous and glaucous annual, 2 to 4 or rarely 6 inches high. Leaves 

 linear, the radical ones shghtly spathidate and stalied, the upper ones icw 

 and sessile. Flowers few, white, ratlier large for the size of the plant, on 

 long, erect pedicels. Sepals nearly 3 Unes long, broadly lanceolate, pointed, 

 with white scarious margins. Petals rather shorter. Capsule Ovate. 



In stony or sandy wastes and pastures, over the gi-eater part of central 

 and southern Europe, but not extending to its eastern limits, nor into the 

 north of Germany. Spread over England as far north as Cheshu-e and 

 Durham, not recorded from Ireland. Fl. spring or ea/rly summer. 



IX. HOIiOSTEUM. HOLOSTEUM. 



Small annuals. Sepals 5. Petals 5, more or less toothed or jagged, but 

 not cleft. Stamens usually 5. Styles 3. Capsule opening in 6 short valves 

 or teeth. 



Besides our species, there are but one or two from the Levant, aU difier- 

 ing from Cerast in the less divided petals, and generally fewer stamens and 

 styles, 



1. Umbellate Holosteum. Holosteum umbellatum, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 27.) 



A shghtly downy, more or less viscid annual, seldom above 6 inches high, 

 divided at the base into several erect or ascending stems. Eadical leaves 

 spreading, oblong or elliptical; those of the stem sessile, varying from 

 ovate to hnear, often half an inch long, or more. The upper part "of the 

 stem forms an almost leafless pedimcle, bearing an umbel of 3 to 8 flowers, 

 on long pedicels, erect at the time of flowering, then turned down, and erect 

 again when the capsule is ripe. Sepals near 2 hnes long, white and scarious 

 at the edges. Petals wliite, rather longer. 



On sandy and stony wastes, fields, and roadsides, very common in 



