198 
XLin. RCBIACEAb 
[ Sherardia. 
a whorl linear-lanceolate their margins midrib as well as the 
angles of the stem rough with reflexed prickles, peduncles 
axillary 3 — 9-flowered, fruit smooth or hispid, the stalks 
divaricated straight. — a. fruit smooth. E. B. t. 1871. — /3. 
fruit hispid. G. Vaillantii D C. : E. B. S. t. 2943. 
Fields of corn, clover, and potatoes, rare. — a. Near Forfar. — B- 
Saffron Walden and Chesterford, Essex. 0. 7. — Allied to the 2 
last species in its short axillary peduncles , but in general habit 
coming so near to G. Aparine, that our var. B. is scarcely to be 
distinguished. G. spurium however has small yellowish-green (not 
white) flowers, a small less hispid fruit, and it does not climb 
hedges. In general G. spurium has numerous flowers on erect 
peduncles, but sometimes only 3 ; while G. Aparine has usually 
only 2 or 3, but sometimes more ; so that no character can be derived 
from these. We are therefore of opinion that they differ by too few 
characters to be distinct species. 
13. G. tricorne With, (rough-fruited Corn B.) ; leaves 6 — 8 
in a whorl linear-lanceolate their margins midrib and angles of 
the stem rough with reflexed prickles, peduncles axillary 3- 
flowered, fruit reflexed granulated. E. B. t. 1641. 
Dry chalky fields in many counties in England. 0. 6 — 10. — 
Flowers all apparently perfect, but the central one only usually 
fertile. 
14. G. Aparine L. ( Goose-grass , or Cleavers ) ; leaves 6 — 8 in 
a whorl linear-lanceolate hispid their margins midrib and angles 
of the stem very rough with reflexed prickles, peduncles axil- 
lary about 3-flowered, the stalks divaricating straight, fruit his- 
pid. E. B. t. 816. 
Hedges, abundant. ©. 6, 7. — Stem weak, straggling, and climb- 
ing among bushes ; rarely in corn-fields or on the sea-shore, and then 
as small as G. spurium. Flowers white, usually 2 or 3 together, 
sometimes 5, on rather short footstalks arising from the axils of the 
leaves. Bristles of the fruit hooked, which by their means catches 
hold of the coats of animals and is widely dispersed. 
3. Sherardia Linn. Sherardia, or Field-Madder. 
Cor. funnel-shaped. Stam. 4. Fruit dry, crowned with the 
cal. — Named in honour of James Sherard, an English botanist 
and patron of that science, whose fine garden at Eltham in 
Kent gave rise to the famous “ Hortus Elthamensis " of Dil- 
lenius. 
1. S. arvensis L. (blue S .) ; leaves about 6 in a whorl, flowers 
terminal sessile capitate. E. B. t. 891. 
Corn-fields, or pastures especially in a light gravelly soil, frequent. ©. 
4 — 10. — A small, slender, branched and spreading plant. Leaves obo- 
vate-lanceolate, acute, their margins rough, upper ones 7 — S, forming 
