THE PRIMROSE FAMILY 
3i 
Not uncommon in bogs and wet places, in England and Scotland, more abundant on the west 
coasts ; frequent in Ireland. June — August. Perennial. 
VIII. BASTARD PIMPERNEL. (CENTUN'CULUS. Linn.)— Flowers minute, solitary in the axils 
of the leaves. Calyx of 4, rarely 5, sepals, united at the base only, entirely free from and inserted 
below the seedcase (inferior) ; corolla of 4, rarely 5, petals, united into a short inflated tube and 
spreading into 4 or 5 lobes, inserted below the seedcase (hypogynous ) ; stamens 4, rarely 5, inserted 
in the throat of the short corolla-tube ; carpels 4, rarely 5 ; fruit a round capsule, i-celled, many- 
seeded, splitting in two crosswise (transversely), the upper part falling off like a lid. Small- 
annual herbs with the leaves alternate except at the base of the stems when they are opposite. 
Bastard Pimpernel, Chaffweed. (Centun'culus minimus. Linn.)— The only 
British species. As just described. A very small plant with minute, almost stalkless flowers, 
shorter than the leaves ; the pale pink corolla is shorter than the sepals ; as is the round, usually 
reddish capsule ; the stems are from \ to 2, rarely 3, inches high, with a few egg-shaped, pointed 
leaves. \P/ate 11. 
Rare. In damp places, where water has lain in the winter ; widely distributed in England and 
Ireland, not recorded from the north of Scotland. June — July. Annual. 
IX. BROOKWEED. (SAM'OLUS. Linn.) — A genus distinguished from all others belonging 
to the Primrose Family by the calyx-tube adhering to the lower half of the seedcase. Flowers 
small, in terminal clusters (racemes). Calyx of 5 sepals, united into a tube which adheres to the 
seedcase and separating into 5 teeth (superior) ; corolla of 5 petals, salver-shaped, with a short 
tube, inserted on the upper part of the calyx-tube (perigynous) ; stamens 5, alternating with 5 
scale-like stamens without anthers ; carpels 5 ; fruit a capsule, i-celled, many-seeded, opening at 
the apex by 5 teeth. Herbs with alternate leaves. 
Brookweed. (Sam'olus Valeran'di. Linn.) — The only British species. As just 
described. The flowers small, ^ inch across, white, in terminal and axillary clusters, crowded at 
first and becoming longer in fruit ; the stems stiff and erect, from 3 or 4 inches to nearly a foot 
high, and the leaves inversely egg-shaped (obovate) or oblong, blunt, fleshy, those of the stem 
stalkless, and those of the root in a rosette and narrowing into a stalk. The whole plant is 
smooth and of a bright green. \Plate n. 
Common. Watery places, by the sides of ditches, especially near the sea. Generally distributed 
over England, Ireland, and Scotland, chiefly on the west coast, not found in the north of 
Scotland. June — September. Perennial. 
