n THE PINK FAMILY. [Stellaria. 



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. gramme a, Linn. (fig. 168). Lesser Stitchwort. — 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 summer. 



6. S. palustris, Ehrh. (fig. 169). Marsh S. — Intermediate between 

 S. graminea and 8. Holortea, 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. S. 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 Europe and 

 Russian Asia, except the extreme north. Abundant in Britain. FL 

 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 

 Illecebracece. [It has many synonyms, as Buda, Adans., Lepiyonum, Fries., 

 and Tissa, 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- 



