88 CARYOPHYLLACEtE. alsinella. 



spergula. 



several -flowered: the lowest flowers distinctly axillary: leaves not fascicled, 

 3-6 lines long, pungent flowers 5-merous on long pedicels that are erect in 

 fruit: sepals a line long: petals nearly as long: stamens 10: capsule ex- 

 ceeding the calyx. Moist places and along the Coast, California to Alaska. 



A. saginoides Greene 1. c. Sagina Linnsei Presl. Biennial or perennial, 

 glabrous, densely matted and decumbent, 1-3 inches long, rooting and 

 often forming lateral rosettes: leaves somewhat fascicled, 3-7 lines long, 

 pungent: flowers on long pedicels, at length nodding: sepals a line long, 

 obtuse, exceeding the petals: stamens 10: capsule at length nearly twice 

 longer than the calyx. In wet places on high mountains, Arctic America 

 to California. 



A. crassicaulis Greene 1. c. Sagina crassicaulis Watson. Smooth per- 

 ennial stems several to many, branching 1-5 inches long : leaves linear, pun- 

 gent thickish, 2-7 lines long or more, the basal forming a rosette which 

 may persist or not; the cauline connate by broad scarious membranes: pedi- 

 cels numerous, straight : flowers 5-parted, petals and sepals subequal 134 

 lines long : capsule Y^-%, longer. Near the sea, mouth of the Columbia river 

 to Monterey, Cal. 



9 SPERGULA L. Gen. n. 586. 



Dichotomously or fascicula/tely branched annuals with subu- 

 late fascicled or apparently whorled leaves with small scarious 

 stipules and small white flowers on slender pedicels in dichoto- 

 mous cymes. Sepals 5, entire. Stamens 10, rarely 5. Ovary 1- 

 celled, many-ovuled ; styles 5, alternate with the sepals. Cap- 

 sule 5-valved, the entire valves opposite to the sepals. Seeds 

 laterally compressed, acutely margined or winged: embryo spiral. 



S. arvensis L. Sp. 440. Smooth: stems several, a foot or two high: 

 leaves filiform, numerous in apparent whorls, 1-2 inches long; stipules 

 small : pedicels at length reflexed: sepals oblong to ovate 2 or 3 lines long, 

 equalling the petals, a little shorter than the broadly ovoid capsule : seeds 

 rough, acutely margined. Sandy fields, especially near the Coast, Wash- 

 ington to California; naturalized from Europe, 



10 TISSA Adanson Fam. des PL ii, 507. 



Low, more or less succulent herbs, usually depressed, with se- 

 taceous or linear fascicled leaves with scarious stipules and small 

 white or pink flowers in subracemose cymes. Sepals 5. Petals 

 5, rarely few or wanting. Stamens commonly 10. Styles 3, very 

 rarely 5. Ovary 1-celled. Capsule with as many valves as styles, 

 when 5, alternate with the sepals. Seeds often margined. 



* Perennials with fusiform fleshy roots. 



T. macrothecum Brit. Bull. Torr. Club xvi, 129. Lepigomim macrothe- 

 cumF.Jk M Perennial, rather stout, 4-12 inches high: decumbent at 

 base, sparingly pubescent, at least above: leaves linear, fleshy, 1-2 inches 

 long; with large ovate stipules : flowers large, subracemose ; pedicels 4-12 

 lines long becoming reflexed : sepals ovate-lanceolate, 3-5 nerved, more or less 

 fcomentosej 3 lines long or more, equalling or exceeding the petals: capsule 

 ovoid, about equalling the calyx. In salt marshes, Washington to Southern 

 California, 



* * Annuals: flowers axillary. 



T. saliua Britton 1. c. 128. Lepigonum marinum WahL spergula sa- 

 lina Presl. . More or less pubescent or often nearly glabrous; much 



