Hernidria.~\ 
XXXIV'. PAROXYCHIACEiE. 
lol 
Stamens inserted into the base of the calyx (somewhat hypogy- 
nous), and opposite to its lobes when as many. Ovary superior. 
Styles 2 — 5. Fruit small, dry, 1 -celled, 1 — 5 valved or inde- 
hiscent. Seeds numerous on a free central receptacle, or soli- 
tary and suspended from a long stalk arising from the base of 
the cell. — Small brandling herbaceous or sufFruticose plants, 
with sessile entire leaves and membranaceous stipules. — An order 
closely allied in many respects to Caryophyllace.®, as also 
to Am aranthacejE and Chenopooiacea:, and, like these two, 
having frequently a single perianth. 
* Fruit 1 -seeded. 
1. Corrigiola. Fruit indehiscent. Petals oblong. Leaves alternate. 
2. IIerniaria. Fruit indehiscent. Sepals herbaceous flat. Petals 
filiform. Leaves opposite. 
3. Illecebiujm. Fruit splitting into valves. Sepals cartilaginous, 
cucullate. Petals 0 or subulate. Leaves opposite. 
** Fruit a several-seeded capsule. 
4. Polycarpon. Sepals keeled at the back, subcucullate at the apex. 
Petals small, narrow, emarginate. Styles 3. 
5. Speroularia. Sepals flat. Petals ovate, entire, as large as the 
calyx. Styles usually 3. 
6. Spergula. Petals ovate, entire, as large as the calyx. Styles 5, 
alternate with the sepals. 
1. Corrigiola Linn. Strapwort. 
Cal. 5-partite, permanent. Pet. 5, oblong, about the length 
of the calyx. Stam. 5. Styles 3. Fruit indehiscent, 1 -seeded. 
Leaves alternate. — Named from corrigia , a strap , or thong; 
formerly applied to the Polygonum aviculare on account of its 
long pliant stems, and now to a plant which is somewhat similar 
to it in habit. 
1. C. littordlis L. ( Sand S.) ; stem leafy among the flowers. 
E. B. t. 668. 
Rare ; on the south-western coast of England. On Slapton sands 
and near the Start Point, Devon ; and at Helston, Cornwall. 0. 
7. 8. — Stems numerous from the top of the root, spreading, slender. 
Leaves linear, obtuse, somewhat fleshy and very glaucous. Flowers 
small. 
2. IIerniaria Linn. Rupture-wort. 
Cal. 5-partite, permanent. Pet. 5, filiform, resembling ste- 
rile stamens, and inserted with them. Stam. 5, inserted upon 
a fleshy disk. Stigmas 2, nearly sessile. Fruit indehiscent, 
l-seeded. Leaves opposite. — Named from the plant having 
been supposed to be useful in the cure of Hernia. 
1. H. glabra L. ( glabrous 11 .) ; stems prostrate herbaceous 
h 4 
