Radiola.] livi&cem. 79 



leafy, when solitary erect, if more numerous tbe lateral ones are ascending or even 

 procumbent at base, branching at top into a dichotomously but unequally forked 

 panicle, the branches lax and drooping in the bud, finally straight, rigid and 

 divaricate : in very small plants the stem is sometimes nearly simple, the pani- 

 cle being reduced to a single bifurcation at the top of the former. Leaves nume- 

 rous, sessile, erect or at bottom of the stem patent or spreading, the middle ones 

 largest, from about 4 to 5 lines in length, opposite or towards the top of the stem 

 and branches sometimes alternate, pale green and slightly glaucous, 3-ribbed at 

 base, entire, their cartilaginous edges minutely spinulose, the lower and middle 

 stem-leaves varying as they ascend from obovate to obovate-elliptical and obtuse 

 or slightly pointed, the rest oblong-elliptical or elliptic-lanceolate, acute, the mid- 

 rib prominent underneath. Flowers very small, open only in fine weather and 

 during the day, solitary and terminal on the forks of the panicle, drooping before 

 expansion, afterwards erect. Bracts none. Sepals ovato-lanceolate, very acute, 

 erect, gibbous at the back, with a very prominent cartilaginously keeled midrib 

 and a pair of faint lateral ones branching and evanescent below the apex ; mar- 

 gins diaphanous, spinulose and edged with a few stalked pellucid glands. Petals 

 about twice the length of the calyx, obovate, white, with yellow claws, just above 

 which they are slightly cohering together, entire, with for the most part a central 

 rounded lobe or apiculus, but scarcely to be called pointed, 3 — 5 veined, wavy or 

 rumpled. Stametis erect, their Jilamenis dilating and combined at base; anthers 

 large ; pollen yellow, globose. Ovarium ovate, furrowed. Styles the length of 

 the stamens, erect ; stigmas capitate, greenish. Capsule scarcely larger than 

 hemp-seed, about as long as the calyx, globose, slightly acuminate, obtusely 

 5-lobed and furrowed. 



11. Radiola, Dillen. Flax-seed. 



Sepals 4, imited up to their middle and mostly 3-cleft. Petals, 

 stamens and styles 4. 



1. R. Millegrana, Sm. Thyme-leaved Flax-seed. All-seed. 

 Least Rupture-wort. Br. Fl. p. 74. E: B. t. 893. Linum 

 Radiola, L. 



In moist places on sandy or gravelly heaths and commons, particularly in spots 

 from which the turf has been pared, or in wheel-ruts, as also near the shallow 

 margins of pools in such situations ; perhaps not unfrequent, but from its diminu- 

 tive size and herbaceous flowers as apt to be overlooked as Centunculus, with 

 which it is very frequently found growing, i^. July, August. 0. 



E. Med.— iHoist spots at the foot of Bleak down, especially at the junction of 

 the roads to Chale, Niton and Godshill, with Centunculus minimus, and near 

 Lashmore pond. Between Newport and Godshill, near Bohemia, Mr. Snooke, 

 Fl. Vect. : I find the plant at the former station in some plenty but of small 

 growth. On Blackpan Common, between Burnt house and Lake, Dr. Bell- 

 Saher ! 



W. Med.— Heath at Colwell, in spots from which the turf has been removed, 

 Mr. W. D. Snooke !!.' 



A humble annual, 1 or 2 inches high, rarely more, so much branched as to 

 resemble a bush or tree in miniature, smooth, glabrous and succulent in every 

 part, often of a reddish colour, especially when in seed. Root very slender, 

 branched and fibrous. Stem erect, in the larger specimens copiously branched 

 almost from the very base, the branches opposite or alternate, repeatedly and 

 dichotomously forked, slender and filiform. Leaves opposite, chiefly subtending 

 the forks of the branches, quite sessile, ovate, scarcely pointed (the uppermost 

 excepted), flat or somewhat thick or fleshy and succulent, when they appear rib- 

 less, though on desiccation showing several (3 or 5 ?) very strong nerves, entire 

 and said to be dotted when viewed under a high magnifier. Flowers globose. 



