370 THE ILLECEBRUM FAMILY. [Tllecebrum. 



ascending, from 1 to 3 inches in height, covered in their whole length 

 with the shining white whorls of flowers, in the axils of opposite, 

 obovate, green leaves. Sepals somewhat enlarged after flowering, but 

 even then but little more than half a line long, green on the inner edge, 

 but thickened and of a pure white on the back, with a fine point, giving 

 the whole calyx a 5 -ribbed form, something like the capsule of a Sedum. 

 Petals, stamens, and ovary very minute. 



In sands, and especially in sandy marshes, in central and southern 

 Europe, from the west coast to the Kussian frontier. In Britain, only 

 in Devonshire, Cornwall, and the Channel Islands. Fl. summer. 



IV. SCLERANTHUS. KNAWEL. 



Small, much branched herbs, with opposite narrow leaves, connected 

 by a narrow, transparent edge at the base ; and numerous small, green 

 flowers, in crowded terminal cymes. Calyx-tube ovoid or campanulate, 

 the limb 5-lobed. Stamens 5, alternating with 5 small filaments, all 

 inserted at the top of the calyx-tube. Styles 2. Seeds solitary in a 

 little nut, enclosed in the somewhat hardened tube of the calyx. 



Besides the two British species, the genus comprises two or three 

 from southern Europe, closely resembling them, and perhaps mere 

 varieties. 



Root annual. Calyx-lobes pointed 1. S. annuus. 



Stock perennial. Calyx-lobes obtuse, edged with white . . . 2. S. perennis. 



1. S. annuus, Linn. (fig. 837). Annual K. — A much branched, erect 

 or spreading annual, 2 to 3 inches high, glabrous or very slightly downy. 

 Leaves very narrow, 2 to 3 lines long. Calyx enlarged after flowering 

 to about 1| lines in length ; the lobes stiff, erect, narrow, pointed, about 

 equal in length to the tube. 



In fields and waste places, over the whole of Europe and western 

 Asia, except the extreme north. Abundant in England, Ireland, and 

 southern Scotland, but scarce in the north. Fl. all summer. 



2. S. perennis, Linn. (fig. 838). Perennial K. — This species so much 

 resembles S. annuus, that it is by some considered as a mere variety, 

 but the root and tufted lower part of the stem will last two or three 

 years. The flowering stems, usually about 2 inches high, are more 

 rigid, the flowers more densely collected in terminal cymes, and the 

 calyx is rather smaller, with obtuse divisions, bordered by a much more 

 conspicuous white edging. 



With nearly the same general range in Europe and Asia as S. annuus, 

 it is everywhere more local. In Britain it appears to be confined to 

 eastern and southern England. Fl. all summer. 



LXII. CHENOPODIACE-ffi. THE GOOSEFOOT FAMILY. 



Herbs or undershrubs, often succulent, sometimes leafless, 

 more usually with alternate or rarely opposite leaves, and no 

 stipules; the small, herbaceous flowers usually in sessile clus- 

 ters, either in axillary or terminal spikes or panicles, and often 



