CARYOPHYLLACEJI. 



117 



axils. Flowers few on each stem, on 

 pedicels from 3 to 6 lines long, and 

 more conspicuous than in the other 

 species, the wide obovate petals being 

 twice as long as the calyx. Sepals ob- 

 tuse, a line long, the parts of the flower 

 usually in fives, with 10 stamens. 



In wet, sandy places, marshes, and 

 bogs, in northern and central Europe, 

 Russian Asia, and northern America. 

 Generally distributed over Britain. Fl. 

 summer. 



Fig. 146. 



VI. CHSRLERIA. CHERLERIA. 



Densely tufted, moss-like perennials, with closely packed leaves. 

 Sepals 5. Petals none, or rarely linear and very minute. Stamens 10. 

 Styles and valves of the capsule 3. Flowers usually wholly or partially 

 unisexual. 



A genus of one or perhaps two species, scarcely distinct from Scrnd- 

 icort. 



1. Mossy Cherleria. Cherleria sedoides, Linn. (Fig. 147.) 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 1212. Cyphel.) 



Stock very densely matted, often se- 

 veral inches in diameter, with long roots, 

 the very short branches completely co- 

 vered with closely packed linear leaves, 

 rather stiff, and 2 or 3 lines long. Pedicels 

 slender, from the summit of the tufts, 

 with a single erect flower. Sepals about 

 a line long, with 3 prominent veins. 

 Stamens shorter than the calyx. Capsule 

 slightly protruding, opening to the base 

 in 3 valves, and containing but few seeds. 



An alpine plant, not uncommon at 

 considerable elevations in the Pyrenees 

 and Alps of Europe, extending east- 



147. 



