PINK TRIBE 



45 



6. S. paliistrts (Glaucous Marsh Stitchwort). — S/em nearly erect, 

 angular, smooth ; leaves narrow, tapering, entire, glaucous ; flowers 

 solitary, on long axillary stalks ; petals very deeply 2-cleft, much 

 longer than the 3-nerved sepals. Resembling the preceding in 

 habit, 6-12 inches high, but with larger flowers. Marshy places. 

 — Fl. June to August. Perennial. 



7. S. Holostea (Greater Stitchwort, Satin-flower, or Adder's Meat). 

 — Stem nearly erect, angular, rough-edged ; leaves narrow, tapermg 

 to a long point, minutely fringed ; petals deeply 2-cleft, twice as 

 long as the sepals. Among the most ornamental of our early sum- 

 mer flowers, scarcely less conspicuous with its delicate green leaves 

 than with its snow-white petals. The stems do not die down to 

 the ground in winter, as is (he case with ..most other herbaceous 

 perennials ; but though dead to all appearance, they send out deh- 

 cate green tufts very early in the year, so that the flowering stems, 

 especially in bushy ])laces, seem to have made unusually rapid 

 growth. — Fl. April to June. Perennial. 



9. Spergulakia {Sand Spiirrey) 



I. S. rubra (Common Spurrey). — Leaves linear, somewhat fleshy, 

 pointed with a minute bristle ; stipules 

 chaffy ; stems prostrate, branching, 3-6 in- 

 ches. A small branching annual or biennial, 

 with purple or sometimes almost white 

 flowers, which vary much in sir.e. Common 

 in .=an ly fields. — Fl. June to August. 



A variety called ,S. viaritima occurs with 

 fleshy semi-cylindrical leaves without points ; 

 stipules chaffy ; stems prostrate. A stouter, 

 larger plant, with larger flowers. Common 

 on the seashore. — Fl. June to August. 



10. Spergula {Spurrey) 



I. S. arvensis (Corn Spurrey). — Leaves 

 cylindrical, in whorls, with minute chaffy 

 stipules at the base ; flowers panicled, bent 

 down when in fruit. A common weed in 

 gravelly cornfields, 6-12 inches high, flowers Spergula Arvensis 

 white. — Fl. all the summer. Annual. (Corn Spurrey) 



II. PoLYCARPO^J {All Seed) 

 I. P. tetraphyllum (Four-leaved All Seed).— A small plant, with 

 prostrate, branched stems, 3-4 inches long, and many minute 

 greenish white flowers with 3 stamens. The ovate leaves are oppo- 



