Arenaria. | XII. CARYOPHYLLACEAL, 69 
c. A. leptoclados,Guss. Flaccid, sepals lanceolate, capsule narrower, 
pedicels spreading. ] 
7. A. ciliata, Linn. (fig. 156). Fringed S.—Stems perennial at the 
base, short, diffuse, generally much branched and matted, the flower- 
ing branches 2 or 8 inches high, and more or less downy. Leaves 
small and ovate, more distinctly stalked than in A. serpyllifolia, veined 
underneath, and usually fringed with a few stiff hairs, near the base. 
Flowers much larger than in the last species, on slender pedicels, 3 to 
6 lines long, the obovate petals considerably longer than the sepals. 
Capsule opening in 6 valves. 
In mountain pastures, in northern and Arctic Europe, and at con- 
siderable elevations, in the higher ranges of central and southern 
Europe. In Britain, only on limestone cliffs near Ben Bulben, in Sligo, 
Ireland, and in the Orkneys and Shetlands. Fl.suwmmer. The Scottish 
specimens belong to an Arctic (maritime ?) nearly glabrous variety, with 
more succulent leaves, seldom fringed, shorter peduncles, and rather 
broader sepals, distinguished as a species under the name of A, nor- 
vegica, Gunn. [An annual or biennial variety of this species has been 
recently discovered on Ribblehead, Yorkshire; with itis the A. gotthica, 
Fries. | 
8. A. trinervis, Linn. (fig. 157). Vhree-nerved S.—A tender, much 
branched, decumbent or spreading annual, from 4 or 5 inches to a foot 
long, resembling in some respects Stellaria media, but very different in 
flower. Leaves stalked, ovate, pointed, half an inch long or more, thin, 
of a light green, with 3 distinct nerves. Pedicels from the upper forks 
of the stem, rather longer than the leaves. Sepals very pointed. Petals 
not quite so long, obovate and entire. Capsule opening in 6 valves, the 
seeds few, shining, with a little white appendage at their hilum. 
In shady woods, along ditches and moist places, throughout Europe 
and the greater part of Russian Asia, except the extremenorth. Frequent 
in England and Ireland, less so in Scotland. Fl. spring and summer. | 
Vii. MCGENCHIA. M(INCHIA. 
Small, but rather stiff, erect annuals. Sepals 4. Petals 4, entire. Sta- 
mens 4 or 8. Styles 4. Capsule opening at the top, with 8 short teeth. 
A genus of two or three European species, with the numbers of parts 
of the flower and entire petals of Sagina, the habit and calyx rather 
of Stellaria, and the capsule of a Cerastium. 
1..M. erecta, Sm. (fig. 158). Upright M.—A glabrous and glaucous 
annual, 2 to 4 or rarely 6 inches high. Leaves linear, the radical ones 
slightly spathulate and stalked, the upper ones few and sessile. Flowers 
few, white, rather large for the size of the plant, on long, erect pedicels. 
Sepals nearly 3 lines long, broadly lanceolate, pointed, with white 
_ scarious margins. Petals rather shorter. Capsule ovate. Cerastiwm 
quaternellum, Fenzl. 
In stony or sandy wastes and pastures, over the greater part of cen- 
tral and southern Europe, but not extending to its eastern limits, nor 
into the north of Germany. Spread over England as far north as the 
Cheviots. - Fl. spring or early summer. 
