Lceflingia. CARYOPHYLLACFLE. *j\ 



1 . S. arvensis, Linn. Smooth ; stems several, a foot or two high : leaves fili- 

 form, numerous in apparent whorls, 1 or 2 inches long ; stipules small : flowers 

 white, the lung pedicels at length reflexed : sepals oblong to ovate, 2 or 3 lines 

 long, equalling the petals, a little shorter than the broadly ovoid capsule : seeds 

 rough, acutely margined. 



Sparingly naturalized ; near San Francisco ( Torrcy) ; Mark West Creek, Bolander. 



7. LEPIGONTJM, Fries. Sand-Spurrey. 



Sepals 5. Petals 5, entire, rarely fewer or none. Stamens 10, or fewer by abor- 

 tion. Ovary 1-celled, many-ovuled : styles 3, or rarely 5. Capsule 3-valved. 

 Seeds winged or naked : embryo annular. — Low herbs, usually diffuse ; with seta- 

 ceous or linear fascicled leaves and scarious stipules ; flowers white or pink, pedi- 

 celled, in at length subracemose cymes. — Kindberg, Monog. Lepig. 



A genus (known also as Spergularia) of 5 or 6 species, chiefly confined to the sea-coast or saline 

 localities ; widely distributed through the temperate zones. Species of rather difficult definition. 



1. L. macrothecum, Fischer <fc Meyer. Perennial, rather stout, often a foot 

 high, decumbent at base, glabrous below, pubescent above, the calyx more or less 

 tomentose : leaves fleshy, £ to 2 inches long, with large ovate stipules : flowers 

 large, subracemose; pedicels 4 to 12 lines long, becoming reflexed: sepals 3 lines 

 long or more, equalling or exceeding the petals : capsule ovoid, a little exceeding 

 the calyx: seeds smooth, narrowly winged. — Kindberg, 1. c. 16, t. 1, fig. 1. Sper- 

 gularia rubra, Torr. in Pacif. R. Eep. iv. 70. 



In salt-marshes from Marin County to San Diego. 



2. L. medium. Fries. More slender and diffusely branched than the last, an- 

 nual or biennial (sometimes perennial 1), more or less pubescent or often nearly 

 glal irous : leaves fleshy, i to 1 inch long or more ; stipules short : pedicels i to 6 

 lines long, often short, reflexed : flowers smaller ; calyx 1 to 2 lines long : seeds 

 smaller, smooth, wingless or narrowly winged. 



In saline localities from San Diego to Puget Sound and across the continent ; also European 

 and Asiatic. A very variable species as at present received. 



8. POLYCARPON, Linn. 



Sepals entire, scarious upon the margin. Petals small, hyaline. Stamens 3 to 5. 

 Ovary 1-celled: style short, 3-clcft. Capsule 3-valved, several-seeded. — Low dif- 

 fuse dichotomously branched annuals ; leaves flat; stipules small, scarious ; flowers 

 small, cymuse. 



Haifa dozen species, in the temperate and warmer regions of both hemispheres. 



1. P. depressum, Nutt. Very small and ranch branched, scarcely an inch 

 high, slender and glabrous : leaves narrowly spatulate, in pairs; stipules small and 

 narrow: Bowers minute, La loose cymes, the pedicels with small bracts: petals nar- 

 row, much shorter than the sepals, entire: capsule globose, 6 - 1 2 .-ceded. — Torr. 

 & Gray, Fl. i. 171. 



On bare sand-hills near San Diego (Nuftall > ; near San Bernardino, Lemmon. 



V. rETRAPHYLMJM, I, inn. I'., is found around the world, but is im! v.-i known from California. 

 It is a larger plant in every way, tin- broad leaves sometimes apparently in fours, ami the Btipnles 



anil bracts often conspicuous. 



9. LCEFLINGIA, Linn. 



Sepals 5, rigid and carinate, the margin scarious : the three outer with a narrow 

 tooth upon each side. Petals very small or none. Stamens 3 to 5. Ovary 1 celled : 



