68 CAEYOPHYLr,ACE.E. [MosncJua. 



as they ascend, and bearing branches or small clusters of leaves in their axils. 

 Flowers rather large, white, few, solitary, terminal on the principal and lateral 

 branches. Sepals ovate, nerveless, very blunt, much shorter than the petals, with 

 whiiish membranous edges. Petals rounded, quite entire, with short abrupt 

 claws, only fully expanded in bright weather. Stamens extremely short, with pale 

 anthers. Styles spreading ; stitimas revolute, beautifully fringed. Capsules sel- 

 dom pel feet [Sm.), ovate. " Seeds brown, wrinkled," {M. et K) 



3. S. arvensis, L. Corn Spurrey. " Leaves whorled with 

 minute membranaceous stipules at their base, stalk of the fruit 

 reflexed, seeds more or less margined." ^ — Br. Fl. p. 145. E. B. 

 t. 1535. S. pentandra, Sm. E. B. t. 1536. 



In cornfields and other cultivated ground, on a light sandy soil ; abundantly. 

 Fl. May— August. 0. 



VII. McEMCHiA, Elirli. Moenchia. 



" Calyx of 4 sepals. Petals 4, entire. Stamens 4 or 8. Styles 

 4. Capsule of 1 cell, many-seeded, opening with 8 teeth at the 

 extremity." — Br. FL. 



1. M. ececfrt, Sm. Upright MoencJda. Br. Fl. j). 70. Sagina, 

 L. : E. B. t. 609. 



In dry sandy, gravelly and turfy pastures, on high heaths and downs; frequent. 

 Fl. April, May. Fr. May, June. 0. 



E. Med. — On Eoyal Heath, in many places. On the sea-bant at Sandown, 

 near the Fort. On Ble.tk Down in jilenty, with Spergula subulata. On St. 

 Helen's spit, abundantly. Shanklin down. St. George' .s Down. 



W. Med. — Abundant on all the sandy heaths and commons about Brixton, 

 Mottistone and Shorwell, as well as on the downs. Plentiful on heaths between 

 Shorwell and Kingston (Hdslett and Buck's heath, &c.), where the ground is 

 whitened by it in scjme places. Gurnet Bay, Miss G. Kilderjce. 



Root annual, of several very slender branched fibres. Stems several or solitary, 

 erect or ascending, the lateral ones sometimes decumbent at the base, lonnd, 2 — 4 

 inches in heii-ht, simple or slightly branched, firm, quite smooth, as is the whole 

 plant, and sometimes tinged with purple. Leaves opposite and connate at their 

 base, linear-lanceolate, a little acute, very stiff and glaucous, single-ribbed, remote 

 on the stem, those at the root more crowded and coespitose, tapering into a long 

 petiole soon withering. Flowers solitary, on terminal and axillary peduncles, 

 erect, not opening very widely. Sepals taper-pointed, very acute, with a white 

 membranous border and a stout central green nerve. Petals white, obtuse, about 

 J shorter than the calyx, a little recurved at the tip. Staiimis on a jointed base 

 as in Slellaria. Styles short; stigmas reflexed, covered uith long crystalline 

 points, and hence appearing plumose. Capsule oblongo-conical, variable in length, 

 usually about equal to the enclosing calyx, membranous, S-ribbed and somewhat 

 octagcraal, tipped with the styles, opening by 8 slightly recurved teeth, the dehis- 

 cence often partially continued to the base of the ribs or sutures. Seeds nume- 

 rous, pale reddish brown, subreniform, laterally compressed, covered with warty 

 granulations and attached to a free central receptacle which is much shorter than 

 the cupsnle. 



VIII, Stellaeia, Linn. Stitchwort. 



" Sepals 5. Petals 5, deeply cloven. Stamens 10. Styles 3. 

 Capsule opening with 6 valves, manj'-seeded."- — Br. Fl. 



1. S. media, With. Common Chickiveed. " Leaves ovate lower 

 ones petiolate upper ones sessile, stems with an alternate line of 



