90 PLANTS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



Sagina. L. 4. 3. 



S. procumbens. L. Pearlvvort. Stem 2-4 inches high, 

 smooth, branched, procumbent, with linear leaves, mucronate, 

 and small white flowers with very short petals or none ; along 

 streams ; July. Native of Britain. 



Sagina is so called from its nourishing power, as some of the 

 plants are valuable food for sheep. The above species is a mere 

 weed and troublesome. Loudon. 



Mollugo. L. 3. 3. 



M. verticillata. L. Carpet Weed. This is a prostrate, 

 spreading weed, with a dichotomous stem, whorled leaves, and 

 small white flowers on axillary peduncles ; in fields, July ; a 

 native of this country. 



Spergula. L. 10. 5. 



<S. arvensis. L. Corn Spurry. Stem 6-12 inches high, 

 with swelling joints, and narrow, linear, whorled leaves, and with 

 white flowers in a dichotomous panicle ; August, in sandy fields. 

 Introduced from Britain. Supposed to receive its name from the 

 Latin word to scatter, because it scatters its seeds widely and 

 rapidly. In Scotland, this species is called yarr, and in England, 

 pickpurse, a name which shows its character. In Germany it is 

 sown in cornfields to give food for sheep in winter, for which it 

 is excellent food, and also for cows, and for hens, green or as 

 hay ; yields most nourishing fodder for its bulk, and gives the 

 best flavored milk and butter. It is not likely to be cultivated 

 here for the same reason that it is not in England, viz., there are 

 better plants for the same soils. Loudon. 



Arenaria. L. 10. 3. 



Named from arena, sand, in which most of its species are found ; 

 all are plants of little consequence. About 50 species are de- 

 scribed ; only 8 are credited to the Eastern States. 



A. serpyllifolia. L. Stem 3-8 inches long, mostly decum- 

 bent, diffuse and dichotomous, with ovate and acute, sessile leaves, 



