The BRITISH HERBAL. 
Cum, as they do : they furround the ftalk, grow- 
ing feveral at each joint ; but, as they are broader, 
they arc alfo fewer than in the common fpitrrey. 
The flowers ftand at the tops of the ftalks ; 
and they are larger than thofe of the common 
kind, and of a milk white. 
The feed-vefTel is large, and roundilh, or oval ; 
and the feeds are numerous and fmall : they are 
black, and have the edge white. 
It is common on fandy grounds in Ireland, 
and in the weft of England ; and flowers in April. 
Ray calis it Aljine fpergula diHa femine mem- 
hranaceo fufco. Dillenius, Spergiila annua femine 
foliaceo nigra circulo membranaceo albo cinUa. 
4. Sea Spurrey. 
Spergula maritima. 
The root is long, flender, and furnifhed with 
many fibres. 
The ftalks are nugierous, upright, and fix or 
eight inches high : they are of a pale green, very 
much branched toward the top, and jointed at 
fmall diftances. 
The leaves are numerous, and ftand round the 
flalk at the joints, in form of the rays of a ftar : 
they are oblong, narrow, and of a pale green. 
The flowers grow at the tops of the branches 
m great numbers; and they are fmail and purple. 
The feed-veflel is large, and the feeds are light 
and brown. 
It is common on our fea-coafts, and flowers in 
July. 
C. Bauhine calls it Alfine fpergula facie media. 
Others, Sagi}m fpergula minor, and Spergula ma- 
rina. Our people call it Sea fpurrey, and Sa!t- 
marfh fpurrey, 
5. Dwarf fea Spurrey, 
Spergula maritima minima. 
The root is long and flender. 
The ftalks are numerous, and four inches 
long: they frequently all trait upon the ground, 
but fometimes a few of them are credl. 
The leaves are narrow, oblong, fmall, and of 
a pale green. 
The flowers are minute, and ofabluiHi purple. 
The feed-vefl"els are fmall, and the feeds duflcy, 
but edged with a white very narrow circle of a 
membranaceous matter, as the others. 
The leaves in this plant are very numerous ; 
but the joints of the ftalk are much more diftanc 
than in the others ; fo that more of it is 
feen. 
It is common in our fait marflies, and flowers 
in May. 
Dillenius calls It Spergula maritima flore par-vo 
co'ruko femine vario. He firft obferved it on 
Sheepy ifland. 
The virtues of thefe feveral plants are trifling 
but their ufes may be very great. 
Our farmers, who ufed to go in a very limited 
traft of huftjandry, have of late years introduced 
from other countries many new produ6ts, by 
the afliftance of which they change their crops 
upon the fame ground very happily, avoid the 
former neceflity of fallow-feafons ; and add vaftly 
to their profits. 
Among the other ufeful plants cultivated in 
the neighbouring countries is the common fpurrey: 
this makes a very wholefome and rich food for the 
horned cattle : it is therefore worth more notice 
in England. But there is another fpecies, the 
common fea fpurrey, which has not been yet culti- 
vated any where, but might be in many places 
to a great advantage. 
The fea-coaft is the natural foil for this plant; 
and it would therefore be very proper, and very 
beneficial to the farmer to fow it on fuch lands 
as, lying very near the fea, will not bear any 
other crop to advantage. 
There is a vaft quantity of this land in the 
kingdom, which at prefent lets for very little, 
and yields very little ; but if this plant were in- 
troduced upon it, would be of great value. Its 
qualities are the fame in all refpedts with thofe of 
common fpurrey. 
The END of the NINTH C L A S S. 
N- XIX. 
Bbt, 
