32 CARYOPHYLLACE.E. 



very base of etich cell around the naked columella, amphi- 

 campylotropous. 



Capsule ovoid, fleshy, one-celled, few-seeded, three-valved, 

 sometimes five-valved, the entire valves then alternate with 

 the sepals. Seeds large, erect, lenticular-pyriform, with a 

 sinus at the naked basilar hilum ; the micropyle rostellate- 

 produced. Embryo hippocrepiform with the extremities 

 approximated, almost inclosing the farinaceous albumen : 

 RADICLE and the slender cotyledons inferior. 



Herb perennial, succulent, growing in the sands of the 

 sea-shore, with numerous quadrangular stems from a common 

 creeping rootstock ; the leaves decussate, ovate or oblong, 

 very thick and fleshy, sessile. Stipules none. Flowers 

 solitary, axillary or terminal, short-peduncled. Petals white. 



Etymology. Dedicated to Honckeny, a Geranan botanist. 



Geographical Distribution. A well-marked genus of a single species 

 (the H. oblongifolia, Torr. 4' Gr., of the Northwest Coast passing by insen- 

 sible gradations into the ordinary form), which is indigenous to the arctic 

 and northern temperate shores of the Old and the New World ; on the Atlan- 

 tic coasts extending southward in the United States to lat. 40°, in Europe 

 to lat. 30°, N. 



Note. The flowers are perfect and similar in all the specimens we have 

 examined. Nor do we notice any albumen exterior to the embryo. — The 

 name indicated by Gmelin would have taken precedence if noticed in time : 

 but it can hardly be said that the genus was established by him. 



PLATE 110. HoNKENYA PEPLOiDES, EhrJi. ; — a flowering stem of the 

 natural size. (Coast of New England, Oakes, Olney.) 



1. An expanded flower, magnified, showing the disk, &c. 



2. A detached petal, more enlarged. 



3. Magnified stamen, inside view. 



4. Outside view of the same. 



5. Magnified longitudinal section of the whole flower, showing the inser- 



tion of parts, the naked columella, &c. 



6. An ovule detached and more magnified. 



7. Dehiscent capsule, with the persistent calyx, enlarged. 



8. Seed, more magnified. 



9. Vertical section of the same, through the embryo and albumen. 



