Spirwa.'] XXVI. KOSACEiE. 131 



oblong or lanceolate segments, deeply toothed or pinnately lobed, 

 gradually smaller as they near the stem, green and glabrous, or slightly 

 downy. Stipules broad, adhering to the leafstalk nearly their whole 

 length. Flowers like those of S. Ulmaria, but rather larger, and often 

 tipped with red. Carpels 6 to 12, not twisted. 



In meadows, pastures, and open woods, generally dispersed over 

 Europe and Kussian Asia, except the extreme north. Frequent in 

 England, Scotland, and in a few localities in the west of Ireland. Fl. 

 summer. 



III. DRYAS. DKYAS. 



Tufted or creeping perennials, with undivided leaves and rather 

 large white or yellowish flowers, growing singly on long peduncles. 

 Calyx free, 8- to 10-lobed. Petals 8 to 10, or rarely fewer. Carpels 

 numerous, crowded on the receptacle, 1-seeded and indehiscent, ending 

 when ripe in long feathery awns or tails, which are not jointed. 



The genus consists of but two, or perhaps three species, confined to the 

 high mountains or Arctic regions of Europe, Asia, and North America. 



1. D. octopetala, Linn. (fig. 304). White Dry as. — Stems short, 

 much branched, prostrate or creeping, forming with their crowded 

 foliage dense spreading tufts. Leaves but little more than 6 lines 

 long, oblong, deeply and regularly crenate, green, glabrous, and almost 

 shining above, white and downy underneath. Peduncles erect, 2 or 3 

 inches long. Segments of the calyx usually 8, rather shorter than the 

 petals. Feathered awn of the carpels above an inch long. 



General geographical range nearly the same as that of the genus. 

 In Britain, not uncommon in the limestone mountain districts of 

 northern England and northern and western Ireland, but particularly 

 abundant in the north of Scotland. Fl. summer. 



IV. GEUM. AVENS. 



Herbs, with a short perennial, sometimes slightly creeping, stock, and 

 annual erect stems. Leaves pinnate, with few and very unequal distinct 

 segments, and yellow or red or white flowers growing singly on long 

 peduncles at the ends of the stems or branches. Calyx of 5 equal 

 divisions, with 5 very small outer ones alternating with them. Petals 

 5. Stamens numerous. Carpels numerous, 1-seeded, indehiscent, end- 

 ing in a hairy point or awn, which is hooked at the tip. 



A genus of several species, widely diffused over the temperate and 

 colder regions of Europe, Asia, and North America, and descending 

 along the Andes to extra- tropical South America. 



Stems branched. Petals small, yellow, spreading . . . . 1. G. urbanum. 

 Stems simple or nearly so. Flowers drooping. Petals dull purple, 



scarcely spreading 2. G. rivale. 



1. G. urbanum, Linn. (fig. 305). Common A., Herb-Bennet. — Stems 

 erect, slightly branched, 1 to 2 feet high, nearly glabrous. Stipules 

 large, leaf-like, the upper ones sometimes above an inch long and 

 broad, and coarsely toothed or lobed. Leaves thin, light green, the 

 lower ones with several large segments intermixed with small ones, 

 the upper ones usually with only 3 large segments, or a single one 



