COS OSS ie ee 
7A THE PINK FAMILY. 
Asia, and northern America, but not an Arctic plant, although in — 
southern Europe generally confined to mountains. Almost universal — 
in Britain. Fl: spring and summer. 
5. S. graminea, Linn. (fig. 168). Lesser Strtehwort.—A glabrous . 
perennial, with a creeping rootstock and slender quadrangular stems, 
diffuse or nearly erect, often above a foot long. Leaves sessile, linear- 
lanceolate and pointed. Flowers small, in long, loose panicles, which 
often become lateral as the flowering advances, the bracts small and 
scarious. Sepals 3-ribbed. Petals narrow, deeply cleft, seldom exceed- 
ing the calyx. 
In meadows and pastures, along hedges, throughout Europe and 
Russian Asia. Very common in the low grounds of Britain, and up 
the mountain valleys as far as cultivation extends. Fl. all swmmer, . 
6. S. palustris, Ehrh. (fig. 169). Marsh S.—Intermediate between 
S. graminea and S. Holostea, having the 3-ribbed sepals and deeply 
cleft petals of the former, with the flowers nearly as large as in the 
latter. It differs also from both, in being generally more glaucous, 
and the leaves are more regularly linear, not so lanceolate nor so 
pointed. The flowers are fewer than in S. graminea, with more leafy 
bracts. 8S. glauca, With. 
In marshy and wet places, generally diffused over temperate Europe 
and Russian Asia ; it, or perhaps a variety, occurs in Australia. Not very 
common in Britain, but recorded from several parts of England, Ireland, 
and southern Scotland. Fl. summer. 
7. S. Holostea, Linn. (fig. 170). Great S., Stitchwort.—A perennial, 
usually glabrous, with a creeping rootstock, and nearly erect though 
weak stems, 1 to 2 feet high, quadrangular, rather brittle, and some- 
times slightly downy. Leaves sessile, lanceolate, tapering to a fine 
point, often 2 inches long or more. Flowers large, in loose, terminal, 
forked panicles, with leafy green bracts. Sepals about 3 lines long, | 
scarious at the edge, scarcely ribbed. Petals near twice as long, rather © 
broad, and cleft to about the middle. 
In hedges, open woods, and bushy places, throughout Kurope and 
Russian Asia, except the extreme north. Abundant in Britain. 1. 
spring and early summer. | 
& , 
XI. SPERGULARIA. SANDSPURRY. 
Low, generally prostrate herbs, with opposite, linear, or subulate 
leaves, with smaller ones often clustered in their axils, and scaly 
scarious stipules. Sepals 5. Petals 5, undivided. Stamens 10 or 
occasionally fewer. Styles 3, rarely 4 or 5. Capsule opening in as 
many entire valves. 
A genus of very few, chiefly Mediterranean species, differing from 
Arenaria only in the stipules, which give them a strong resemblance to 
Iilecebracee. [It has many synonyms, as Buda, Adans., Lepigonum, Fries., 
and 7'ssa, employed by various authors. ] 
1. S. rubra, Pers. (fig. 171). Common S.—An annual or biennial, 
glabrous or with a short viscid down in the upper parts, with numerous 
stems branching from the base, and forming spreading or prostrate 
tufts, 3 or 4 inches, or, when very luxuriant, 6 inches long. Leaves 
narrow-linear ; the scarious stipules at the base short, but very con- 
er PRE yr 
