Spergularia.] XII. OAEYOPHYLLACE^. 75 



spicuous; Flowers very variable in size, usually pink, or rarely nearly 

 white, on short pedicels, in forked cymes, usually leafy at the base. 

 Petals shorter, or rarely rather longer than the sepals. Seeds more or 

 less flattened, often surrounded by a narrow, scarious wing or border. 



In sandy or gravelly heaths and waste places, chiefly in maritime 

 countries, widely spread over Europe, Kussian Asia, North America, 

 and Australia. Common in Britain. Fl. all summer. There are two 

 marked varieties ; one, chiefly occurring inland, has slender leaves, 

 small flowers (the sepals 1 to 2 lines long), short capsules, and the seeds 

 rarely bordered ; the other, generally growing near the sea, often dis- 

 tinguished as S. marina, has thicker, somewhat fleshy leaves, larger 

 flowers (the sepals 2 to 3 lines long), larger capsules, and the seeds 

 usually bordered, but both varieties occur with bordered and with 

 unbordered seeds. 



[Most authors distinguish four British species, of which two are 

 annuals or biennials. 1. S. rubra, Pers., with linear flat acute leaves, 

 short capsules and tubercled seeds with thick margins. 2. S. salina, 

 Presl., with semicylindric acuminate leaves, longer capsules, and seeds 

 usually smooth, winged or not ; and two are perennials, both with 

 semicylindric leaves. 3. S. media, Pers., glabrous with long capsules 

 and winged seeds. 4. S. rupestris, Lebel, with short capsules and pyri- 

 form seeds not winged. All are maritime except S. rubra.] 



XII. SPERGULA. SPUKEY. 



Slender herbs, with narrow-linear leaves in opposite clusters, so as 

 to appear whorled, and minute, scarious stipules. Sepals 5. Petals 5, 

 undivided. Stamens 10, or occasionally 5 or fewer. Styles 5. Capsule 

 opening in 5 entire valves. 



A very small European and Asiatic genus, differing from Sagina, as 

 Spergularia does from Arenaria, by the presence of scarious stipules. 



1. S. arvensis, Linn. (fig. 172). ComS. — A slender annual, branch- 

 ing at the base into several erect or ascending stems, 6 inches to a foot 

 high, glabrous or slightly downy. Leaves almost subulate, 1 to 2 inches 

 long, growing 6 or 8 together in two opposite clusters, and spreading so 

 as to appear whorled. The scarious stipules much smaller than in 

 Spergularia, and sometimes obscure. Flowers small, white, on long- 

 slender pedicels, turned down after flowering in terminal, forked cymes. 

 Sepals 1 J to 2 lines long. Petals generally shorter. Stamens frequently 

 10 or 5 in the same plant. Seeds slightly flattened, with or without a 

 narrow, scarious border. 



In cultivated and waste places, all over Europe, and temperate 

 Asia; but in the northern districts, as in many other parts of the 

 world, only as a cornfield weed. Common in British cornfields. Fl. 

 all summer. 



XIII. POLYCARPON. POLYCAKP. 



Low annuals, with opposite, or apparently whorled, flat leaves, and 

 scarious stipules. Sepals 5. Petals 5, very minute. Stamens 3 to 5. 

 Styles very short, with 3 short linear branches. 



