PRIMROSE FAMILY 



323 



8. Centunxulus (Chaffweed, Bastard Pimpeniel). — ^[inute 

 plants, with leaves partly opposite, partly scattered ; /?oa'fw axillary, 



corolla wifh an inflated, sub- 

 ; capsule 'splitting all round. 



sub-sessile, minute, often 4-merous 

 globose tube ; filaments not hairy 

 (Name of doubtful etymology.) 



I. C. iiihiiiiius (Chaffweed, 

 Bastard Pimpernel). — The only 

 British species, one of the smallest 

 among British flowering plants, 

 rarely exceeding an inch in height, 

 and often much less. It is nearly 

 allied to the Pimpernels, and at 

 the first glance might be mistaken 

 for a stunted specimen of Aua- 

 gdllis arvensis. It is sometimes 

 branched; but very frequently 

 consists of a single stem, 6 or 8 

 ovate, acute leaves, and as many 

 inconspicuous, nearly sessile, pale 

 pink flowers. — Damp, gravelly 

 places, especially where water has 

 stood during winter. — PL June — 

 August. Annual. 



9. S.iMOLUS (Brookweed). — 

 Leaves pSkVtXy radical partly cauline, 

 and scattered ; flowers in a termi- 

 nal, bracteate corymb ; calyx half 

 superior, 5 - cleft, persistent : 

 carolla salver - shaped, white ; 

 stamens 5, epipetalous, alternating 

 with 5 staminodes ; capsule open- 

 ing with 5 reflexed teeth. (Name 

 said to be from the island of 

 Samos, where Valerandus, a 

 botanist of the sixteenth century, 

 gathered our British species.) 

 '' \. S. Valerdiidi (Brookweed). 

 — The only British species, a 



smooth, pale green, herbaceous plant, with : blunt, fleshy leaves, 

 and one or niore terminal clusters of ver)' small white flowers, 

 crowded at first, but finally becoming distant, resembling in this 

 respect the habit of some Crz<c//n-rt7.— A\'atery places : conmion. — 

 Fl, June — September. Perennial. 

 \ 2 



.'^.^MOLU'^ V'.^LHK.^ND 



