30 CARYOPHYLLACE^. 



Etymology. Sagina, fattening, food ; — these little plants being sup- 

 posed to be nourishing to cattle. 



Geographical Distribution, &c. Natives of the colder and temperate 

 parts of the northern hemisphere, sparingly, if at all truly, indigenous in the 

 southern hemisphere. The species here figured (as well as S. apetala) 

 has probably been introduced from the Old World, although it has the ap- 

 pearance of being indigenous in Rhode Island, Connecticut, &c. But S. 

 nodosa and S. Linnaei (Spergula saginoides, L.) are certainly indigenous 

 north and west of the limits of the United States proper, as also, probably, 

 is S. Elliottii, Fenzl (Spergula decumbens, Ell.), in the Southern States. 

 S. fontinalis. Short df Peter, is thought by Fenzl to be an apetalous form of 

 Stellaria crassifolia. S. erecta, Linn. (Mcenchia, Ehrh.), is now referred 

 to Cerastium. — The Linneean Sagina was founded on the tetramerous 

 species alone ; the pentamerous ones having been referred to, and until re- 

 cently retained in, Spergula, from which they differ in the position of the 

 valves of the capsule, as well as in the want of stipules. 



PLATE 109. Sagina procumbens, Linn. ; — from Rhode Island, Olney. 



1. Diagram of the flower. (The central cross represents the stigmas, 



which alternate with the valves of the capsule, and with the sepals.) 



2. An expanded flower, magnified. (Tetramerous.) 



3. Hypogynous disk (with the base of the filaments) detached and more 



magnified, 



4. Stamen (with the lobe of the disk) still more enlarged ; outside view. 



5. The same, seen from within, and showing the dehiscence of the anthers. 



6. Pistil, magnified. 



7. The same, with the ovary and central placenta vertically divided. 



8. An ovule detached, more magnified. 



9. Dehiscent capsule and calyx of a pentamerous flower, magnified. 



10. Magnified seed. 



11. Vertical section of the same, and of the arcuate embryo, albumen, &c. 



