Annual. — Flowers in June and July. 
Root small, tapering, fibrous. Stems several, from 6 to 12 in- 
ches long, either nearly upright, or decumbent, moderately branch- 
ed, jointed, leafy; nearly cylindrical, clothed, more or less, with 
spreading glandular hairs, especially the upper part, the lower part 
smooth, and almost naked. Branches terminated by a forked, 
divaricated, downy, vicid panicle. Leaves narrow, strap-shaped, 
somewhat fleshy, convex on the upper surface, furrowed on the 
under, smooth, or clothed more or less with short, projecting, 
bristly hairs ; of 2 bundles from each joint, spreading in a whorled 
manner. Stipulas very short, membranous, 2 at the base of each 
whorl; joints swollen. Peduncles ( flower-stains J from half an 
inch to an inch or more in length, cylindrical, slender, downy, 
vicid, single-flowered, spreading, with a small, membranous bractea, 
at their base ; strongly reflexed as the fruit ripens. Calyx downy ; 
sepals egg-shaped, blunt, with membranous margins. Corolla 
white ; petals egg-shaped, a little longer than the calyx. Stamens 
usually 1 0, sometimes 5, or some intermediate number. Styles con- 
stantly 5. Capsule longer than the calyx, and opening more than 
half way down into 5 entire valves. Seeds many, roundish, slightly 
compressed, black, dotted with raised points, varying in the breadth 
of the margin or border. 
This plant is a native throughout Europe ; also in North America 
on the banks of the Columbia and about Quebec. In the Nether- 
lands and in Germany the seed of this plant is sown on corn- 
stubbles, to supply a bite for sheep during Winter. It may be sown 
and reaped in eight weeks, either in Autumn or Spring. It is said 
to enrich the milk of cows, so as to make it afford excellent butter, 
and the mutton fed on it is said to be preferable to that fed on 
turnips. Hens eat Spurrey greedily, and it is supposed to make 
them lay a great number of eggs, whether in hay, or cut green, or 
in pasture. Von Thaer observes, it is the most nourishing in 
proportion to its bulk, of all forage, and gives the best flavoured 
milk and butter. It has been recommended to be cultivated in 
England, but it is not likely that such a plant can ever pay the 
expence of seed and labour in this country, even on the poorest 
soil. We have fortunately, how r ever, better plants for such soils, 
such as Rie, Peas, Tares or Vetches , Buckwheat, Carrots, Sfc. The 
inhabitants of Finland and Norway make bread of the seeds of the 
Spurrey, when their crops of corn fail. See Don's Gen. Syst. of 
Gard. and Bot. ; Martyn's Mill. Diet., frc. 
The flowers are very sensible to atmospheric changes. Dr. Johnston, in his 
excellent Flora of Berwick-upon-Tweed, says, We have seen a field, whitened 
with its numerous blossoms, have its appearance quite changed by the petals closing 
on a black cloud passing over, and discharging a few drops of rain. 
S per pula pentandra of Engl. Bot. t. 1036, is considered to be not specifically 
distinct from 5. arvensis. 
