200 On the British Species 



branous margins to the bractese. He has, probably with justice, 

 considered it as a distinct species, but has incorrectly retained the 

 Linnsean name for it, rather than for that form to which it has been 

 given by most, if not all other authors. Seringe has retained them 

 both as distinct species in DC Prod, but in the Botan. Gall. C 

 pellucidum is considered as a variety of C. semidecandrum. By 

 Reichenbach (Fl. excurs. 4969,) C. semidecandrum, Lois, is re- 

 ferred to C. pumilum, Cvrt., and considered as distinct from semi- 

 decandrum. I have unfortunately not seen authentic specimens of 

 Curtis's plant, nor that of Loiseleur. 



In dry fields and upon walls. April — May. I have not noticed 

 var y. in England, 



4. C. ptdnncidatum. (Plate VI.) — Leaves ovate or oblong, petals 

 much shorter than the calyx, sepals lanceolate, acute, covered with 

 short glandular hairs, their apex and margins membranous, the mar- 

 gins of the bractese slightly membranous, capsule straight, subcylin- 

 drical, equal to or longer than the calyx, always erect, the fruit-bear- 

 ing peduncles two or three times as long as the calyx, stems repeat- 

 edly dichotomous. 



a. 5-partitum. Calyx and corolla 5-parted, capsule opening by 

 10 teeth, and longer than the calyx. 



(3. 4.-partitum. Calyx and corolla 4-parted, capsule opening by 8 

 teeth, and about as long as the calyx. PL 



The whole plant covered with short hairs, many of which are 

 glandular. Root small, fibrous. Stems several, from 6 inches to 1 

 foot in height, erect, repeatedly dichotomous, bearing a flower in 

 each fork, and having very long internodes. Leaves ovate or oblong, 

 usually pointed, small, the lower ones narrowed into a broad petiole, 

 the rest sessile. Flowers scattered, one in the axil of each fork of 

 the stem. The peduncles of the fruit two, three, or even four times 

 as long as the calyx, always erect and straight. Bracteae slightly mem- 

 branous at their mai'gins. Sepals lanceolate, acute, covered with short 

 glandular pubescence, membranous at the margins and apex. Pe- 

 tals much shorter than the calyx. The number of stamens is vari- 

 able, as is usually the case in this genus. Capsule straight, cylindri- 

 cal, as long or rather longer than the calyx, always erect, and never 

 forming an angle Avith its peduncle. Seeds small and tuberculated. 



On sandy ground. St Hellens, Isle of Wight. Mr Borrer. South- 

 end, Essex. Annual. May and June. 



I was for some time inclined to consider this plant as a variety of 

 C. brachypetalum, Desp. but having recently received authentic 

 specimens of that plant from Germany, (No. 389, in Reichenbach's 



