PINK FAMILY. 171 



site to the sepals. Embryo spirally annular. (Name from the Latin 

 spargere, to scatter, in reference to the dispersion of the seeds. ) 



1. S. arvensis L. Corn Spukbey. Diffusely branching from 

 the base; the stems 1 to :i ft. long; pubescence of short spreading 

 glandular hairs; leaves slightly fleshy, numerous in rather remote 

 whorls; flowers white, 4 lines broad in a cymose panicle with strongly 

 divergent branches; petals ovate, exceeding the sepals. 



Fields and orchards, Berkeley to Monterey Co. Apr. European 

 weed. 



10. POLYCARPON L. 



Low much branched annual with numerous flat leaves, small 

 scarious stipules and very small flowers in cymes. Sepals 5, more or 

 less carinate, scarious-margined . Petals 5, hyaline, shorter than the 

 sepals. Stamens 3 to 5. Styles united below, very short, with 3 

 branches. Capsule 3-valved. Seeds several. Embryo little curved. 

 (Greek polus, many, and karpos, fruit, in reference to the numerous 

 pods. ) 



Leaves in 4's or opposite; inflorescence leafless . . . .i.P.tetra. _ 

 Leaves opposite; inflorescence more or less leafy . . . . 2. P. depressum, 



1. P. tetraphyllum L. Nearly glabrous, the stems prostrate 2 or 

 5 in. long; leaves in 4's or opposite, oblong or obovate, short-petioled, 

 2 to 6 lines long; cyme leafless, many-flowered, dense, the flowers 

 nearly 1 line long or a trifle more, short pediceled; sepals green or 

 purplish; capsule nearly equaling the calyx. 



Native of Europe; established along railway lines in Napa Valley 

 and at Vallejo. July-Aug. 



2. P. depressum Nutt. Plants prostrate, 1 to 2J in. broad with 

 slender stems; leaves spatulate, varying to obovate, obtuse or acute, 

 J to 2 lines long; flowers J as large as in the preceding; sepals little 

 if at all keeled, about J line long; petals white, membranaceous, linear, 

 J as long as the sepals. 



Pajaro Hills, Monterey Co., collected within a few miles of the 

 Santa Cruz Co. line, June-July, 1899, H. P. Chandler; hitherto 

 known only from Southern California. 



11. LCEFLINGIA L. 



Low rigid annuals, dichotomously branched from the base, with 

 subulate leaves and setaceous stipules. Flowers small, sessile in the 

 axils. Sepals acuminate or awn-tipped, the outer with a tooth on 

 each side. Petals 3 to 5, minute or none. Stamens 3 to 5. Style 

 short or none. Capsule 3-valved, several-seeded. (Peter Loefling, 

 Swedish traveler of the 18th Century.) 



1. L. squarrosa Nutt. Glandular-pubescent, diffusely branched 

 from base, 2 to 5 in. high; leaves subulate, cuspidate, squarrose- 

 spreading; 2 to 3 lines long; capsule shorter than the sepals. 



Lower San Joaquin at Oakdale; to be expected within our limits. 



12. HERNIARIA L. 



Ours a very small annual, with minute scarious stipules. Flowers 



