Arenaria. | XII. CARYOPHYLLACEX. 69 
but more so in the south than inthenorth. FV. summer. [A very variable 
plant, of which there are three British forms. 
a. A. serpyllifolia proper. Rigid, sepals ovate-lanceolate, capsule ovoid, 
pedicel ascending, 
b. A. glutinosa, Koch. Shorter, stouter, more glandular. 
c. A. leptoclados, Guss. Flaccid, sepals lanceolate, capsule narrower, 
pedicels spreading. | 
6. A. ciliata, Linn. (fig. 155). Fringed Sandwort.—Stems perennial 
at the base, short, diffuse, generally much branched and matted, the flower- 
ing branches 2 or 3 inches high, and more or less downy. Leaves small 
and ovate, more distinctly stalked than in A. serpyllifolia, veined under- 
neath, and usually fringed with a few stiff hairs on each edge near the base. 
Flowers much larger than in the last species, on slender pedicels, 3 to 6 
lines long, the obovate petals considerably longer than the sepals. Capsule 
opening in 6 valves. 
In mountain pastures, in northern and Arctic Europe, and at considerable 
elevations, in the higher ranges of central and southern Europe. In Britain, 
only on limestone cliffs near Ben Bulben, in Sligo, Ireland, and in the 
Orkneys and Shetlands. #1. summer, The Scottish specimens belong to 
an Arctic (maritime ?) nearly glabrous variety, with more succulent leaves, 
seldom fringed, shorter peduncles, and rather broader sepals, distinguished 
as a species under the name of 4. norvegica, Gunn. 
7. 4. trinervis, Linn. (fig. 156). Zhree-nerved Sandwort.—A tender, 
much branched, decumbent or spreading annual, from 4 or 5 inches toa 
foot long, resembling in some respects Stellaria media, but very different in 
flower. Leaves stalked, ovate, pointed, half an inch long or more, thin, of 
a light green, with 3 distinct nerves. Pedicels from the upper forks of the 
stem, rather longer than the leaves. Sepals very pointed. Petals not quite 
so long, obovate and entire. Capsule opening in 6 valves, the seeds few, 
shining, with a little white appendage at their hilum. 
In shady woods, along ditches and moist places, throughout Europe and 
the greater part of Russian Asia, except the extreme north. Frequent in 
England and Ireland, less so in Scotland. 1. spring and summer. 
VILL, MGENCHIA. MCENCHIA. 
— Small, but rather stiff, erect annuals. Sepals 4. Petals 4, entire. Sta- 
mens 4 or 8. Styles 4. Capsule opening at the top, with 8 short teeth. 
A genus of two, or three European species, with the numbers of parts of 
the flower and entire petals of Sagina, the habit and calyx rather of Sfel- 
laria, and the capsule of a Cerastium. 
1, M. erecta, Sm. (fig. 157). Upright Mcenchia,—A glabrous and 
glaucous annual, 2 to 4 or rarely 6 inches high. Leaves linear, the radical 
ones slightly spathulate and stalied, the upper ones few andsessile. Flowers | 
few, white, rather large for the size of the plant, on long, erect pedicels. 
Sepals nearly 3 lines long, broadly lanceolate, pointed, with white scarious 
margins. Petals rather shorter. Capsule ovate. Cerastiwm quaternellum, 
Fenzl. 
In stony or sandy wastes and pastures, over the greater part of central 
and southern Europe, but not extending to its eastern limits, nor into the 
north of Germany. Spread over England as far north as the Cheviots., 
_ Fl. spring or early summer. 
