96 The Museum Gazette 



Petals scarcely longer. The large and nearly globular capsule 

 opens in three or four broad valves. (Caryophyllece.) 



Sea Pearlwort (Sagina mavitima). 



From sagina, 11 fatness "; presumed nourishing qualities for 

 sheep. Pearlwort from its being used to kill a disease in the 

 eye called pearl. Sepals, stamens, and styles usually four. 

 Petals as many or none. Closely allied to the common 

 Pearlwort, and presenting the usual maritime differences of 

 firmer and thicker stems and leaves. (Caryophyllecz). 



Sea Aster (Aster Tripolmm). 



From aster, " a star" ; the flowers resemble little stars from 

 the rays of their circumference. Perennial, not more than a 

 foot high, seldom branched. Leaves linear, entire ; some- 

 what succulent. Flower-heads in a terminal compact corymb. 

 Ray-florets purplish, numerous or few, sometimes absent. 

 (Composite). 



Sea Holly (Eryngium mavitimum). 



From Eryngeon, a name adopted by Pliny from Dioscorides. 

 Flowers pale blue, nearly globular, Leaves very stiff, broad 

 and sinuate, bordered by coarse prickly teeth. The whole 

 plant is quite glabrous, and glaucous or bluish. (Umbel lifercs.) 



Prickly Saltwort (Salsola kali). 



From salsus, " salt " ; alluding to the saline properties of 

 the genus. The leaves all end in a stout prickle. Flowers 

 sessile in the upper axils. Stamens five. Styles, two or 

 three, often combined at the base. (Chenopodiacecz.) 



Grass -wrack (Zoster a marina). 



Zoster, " a girdle." Wrack is seaweed thrown ashore, from 

 a Norse or Frisian word connected with the Danish vrage, 

 " reject." Grass-wrack from the long grass-like leaves. A 

 creeping and rooting plant, growing on sandy shallows 

 and sea-banks, and thrown up abundantly after storms. 



