Annual. — Flowers in April and May. 
Root small, slightly branched, fibrous. Stems thread-shaped, round, 
weak, and partly decumbent, branched from the bottom only, from 
3 to 6 inches high, leafy ; hairy and glutinous between the joints 
at tile upper part. Root-leaves elliptical ; cauline ones somewhat 
egg-shaped, rather larger, opposite, tapering at the base into short, 
broad, combined petioles f leaf -stalks J ; all single-ribbed, glaucous, 
rather succulent, and quite entire and even at the edges. Peduncles 
( flower-stalks ) hairy and clammy. Pedicels about 5, terminal, 
umbellate, simple, spreading, at length partly reflexed, afterwards 
upright. Bracteas several, small, at the base of the pedicels. Calyx 
smooth, brownish. Corolla white, or pale reddish ; petals elliptic- 
oblong, variously and unequally toothed at the summit, not deeply 
and regularly cloven as in the c erastia. Stamens and Pistils 3, 
sometimes more. Capsule somewhat egg-shaped, or nearly cylin- 
drical, 1-celled, opening at the top into 6 teeth or valves. Seeds 
numerous, somewhat 3-cornered, reddish, and rough with scat- 
tered dots. 
This singular and interesting little plant is a native of many other 
parts of Europe as well as of England, as Spain, Italy, France, 
Germany, and Switzerland, where it is found in similar situations 
to those of its localities in England. 
The specimen from which the drawing for the accompanying 
plate was made, was obligingly communicated to me from the 
vicinity of Eye, in Suffolk, by the Honourable Anne Townsend, 
May 1, 1838. 
ALL NATURE PROCLAIMS A DEITY. 
“ There is a voiceless eloquence on earth 
Telling of Him who gave her wonders birth ; 
And long may I remain th’ adoring child 
Of Nature’s majesty, sublime or wild ; 
Hill, flood, and forest, mountain, rock, and sea. 
All take their terrors, or their charms from Thee, 
Prom Thee, whose hidden but supreme control 
Moves through the world, a universal soul. 
But who could trace Thine unrestricted course. 
Though Fancy followed with immortal force ? 
There’s not a blossom fondled by the breeze. 
There's not a fruit that beautifies the trees. 
There’s not a particle in sea or air. 
But Nature owns Thy plastic influence there ! 
With fearful gaze, still be it mine to see 
How all is fill’d and vivified by Thee ; 
Upon thy mirror, earth’s majestic view, 
To paint Thy Presence, and to feel it too.” 
R. MONTGOMERY. 
