122 



THE PINK FAMILY. 



on limestone cliffs near Ben Bulben, in Sligo, Ireland, and on a serpen- 

 tine hill in Unst, Shetland. Fl. summer. The Shetland specimens 

 belong to an Arctic (maritime ?) variety, with more succulent leaves, 

 seldom fringed, and rather broader sepals, distinguished as a species 

 under the name of A, norvegica (Eng. Bot. Suppl. t. 2852). 



7. Three-nerved Sandwort. Arenaria trinervis, Linn. 

 (Fig. 154.) 



(Eng. Bot. t. 1483.) 



A tender, much branched, decumbent 

 or spreading annual, from 4 or 5 inches 

 to a foot long, resembling in some re- 

 spects the Ckicktveed Starwort, 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, ob ovate and entire. 

 Capsule opening in 6 valves, the seeds 

 few, shining, with a little white appen- 

 dage 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 Eng- 

 land and Ireland, less so in Scotland. 

 Fl. spring and summer. 



Fig. 154. 



VIII. MCEKCHIA. MCENCHIA. 



Small, but rather stiff, erect annuals. Sepals 4. Petals 4, entire. 

 Stamens 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 Pearlwort, the habit and calyx rather 

 of Starwort, and the capsule of a Cerast. 



