Spergidaria.'] xxxiv. faronyciiiacezE. 
153 
very short. Caps. 3-valved, many-seeded. — Named from 
7 ro\v£, many , and Kapwog, fruit ; applied sometimes by the an- 
cients to the Polygonum aviculare, to which the present genus 
is somewhat similar. 
1 . P. tetraphyllum L. ( four-leaved A.) ; triandrous, sepals 
mucronate, petals notched, leaves spathulate-obovate, those of 
the stem usually in fours, of the branches opposite. E. B. t. 
1031. 
Southern coasts of England : particularly Devonshire, Dorsetshire, 
Cornwall, and Glamorganshire. Jersey and Guernsey. ©. 6, 7. 
5. Spergclaria Pers. Sandwort- Spurrey. 
Sep. 5, flattish. Pet. 5, ovate, entire, about as long as the 
calyx. Stam.5 — 10, or fewer. Styles usually 3 (3 — 5). Caps. 
many-seeded, with entire valves fewer than the sepals or as 
many and alternate with them. — Named from the resemblance 
to the next genus. 
1 . S. rubra A. St. Hil. ( Field S.) ; stems prostrate, leaves nar- 
row-linear acute plane scarcely fleshy tipped with a short bris- 
tle, stipules ovate cloven, capsule as long as the calyx, seeds 
compressed angular roughish. Arenaria L.: E. B. t. 852. 
Alsine Wahl. Lepigonum Wahl. : Bab. 
Gravelly or sandy soils, frequent. 0. 6 — 9. — Much branched 
and spreading, branches often compressed upwards. Stipules a pair 
of ovate, acute, white, membranaceous scales, united at their base. 
Flowers numerous, in the axils of the upper leaves, solitary on rather 
short peduncles that are at length slightly bent back. Sepals ob- 
scurely S*nerved, obtuse, and, as well as the peduncles, glandular and 
viscid. 
2 . S. marina Camb. ( Sea-side S.); stems prostrate, leaves 
semicylindrical fleshy usually with a short point, stipules ovate 
cloven, capsule longer than the calyx, seeds compressed. — a. 
seeds mostly without a border, capsule a little longer than the 
calyx. Arenaria rubra marina L. Lepigonum Wahl. : Bab . — 
i3. seeds mostly with a broad membranaceous striate border, 
capsule often twice as long as the calyx. Arenaria media L. 
A. marina Sm. (not Oed.): E. B. t. 958. Alsine M. et K. 
Frequent upon the sea-coast. <J or ip. 6 — 8. Longer and stouter 
in all its parts than the last, and with an almost woody root. Stems 
and branches compressed, except at the base. Leaves varying from 
obtuse, with or without a point, to acute on the same specimen. We 
are not sure that this is specifically distinct from the last; our a. is in 
some measure intermediate. 
h 5 
