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154 : THE QNOTHERA FAMILY. 
In wet ditches, bogs, and pools, in central and sowtbiahh Europe, 
central Asia, and North America, not crossing the Baltic to the 
northward. In Britain only known hitherto in three localities in 
Hampshire and Sussex, and in Jersey. Fl. swmmer. 
IV. CIRCA. CIRCA. 
Herbs, becoming perennial by creeping rootstocks from the base of 
the erect annual flowering stems, with opposite stalked leaves, and 
small flowers in terminal racemes. Limb of the calyx of 2 divisions, 
turned back whilst flowering. Petals 2. Stamens 2. Style distinct, | 
with a thick stigma. Ovary and capsule globular, pear-shaped, or 
oblong, 2- or 1-celled, with 1 seed in each cell. 
This pretty little genus consists of three or four species, spread over 
Kurope, temperate Asia, and North America, all so nearly resembling 
each other, that, in the opinion of some botanists, they are varieties 
of one. 
Plant more or less hairy. Capsule pear-shaped, with 2 seeds . . 1. C. lutetiana. 
Leaves perfectly glabrous. Capsule oblong, with 1 seed . z . 2. C. alpina. 
1. OC. lutetiana, Linn. (fig. 353). Common C., Enchanter’s Nightshade. 
—Stems erect or shortly decumbent, and rooting at the base, 1 to 14 
feet high, and, as well as the leaves and racemes, more or less clothed 
with very short whitish hairs, Leaves on rather long stalks, broadly 
ovate or heart-shaped, 2 to 3 inches long, rather coarsely toothed, of a 
thin texture. Flowers white or pink, in elegant, slightly branched, 
leafless, terminal racemes. Pedicels about 2 lines long, turned down 
after flowering. Capsule small, pear-shaped, covered with stiff, hooked 
hairs, forming a small burr. Seeds 2 
In shady situations, throughout Europe and temperate Asia, except 
the extreme north, and in North America. Abundant in England and 
Ireland, rarer in Scotland, but extending to Aberdeenshire. Fl. summer. 
2. C. alpina, Linn. (fig. 354). Alpine C.—Closely resembles the 
common species, of which it may be a mountain variety, but js smaller 
in all its parts, and usually quite glabrous, except the fruit. It is 
seldom above 6 inches high; the leaves are thinner, and often glossy ; 
the capsules smaller, less hairy, much narrower, and usually contain 
only a single seed, owing to the almost constant abortion of one of the 
cells. 
In woods, and stony places, chiefly in mountain districts, | in Europe 
and all across Russian Asia, often ascending to great altitudes, and 
penetrating farther northward than C. lutetiana, but apparently not 
an Arctic plant. Abundant in Scotland, extending into the midland 
counties of England, but disappearing in the south; in Ireland it is 
both in the north and in Cork county. Fl. summer. A large variety, 
or hybrid, has sometimes been described as a distinct species, under the 
name of C. intermedia, Ehrh., a name also occasionally given to smaller : 
states of C. lutetiana. 
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