THE THRIFT FAMILY 
23 
into zigzag branches, the lower ones bearing no flowers ; the bracts with broader white scarious 
margins than in any other native species ; and the leaves smaller and usually with no 
veining except the midrib. ( Statice capsia. Willd. ; Limonium reticulatum. Miller ; Statice 
reticulata. Linn.) 
Rare. In sandy salt marshes, where it is fairly dry, round the Wash, in Norfolk, Cambridge 
and Lincolnshire. July — August. Perennial. 
II. THRIFT. (STATICE. Linn.) — Flowers pink, purple, rose-colour, or white, clustered 
together in a dense, round, terminal head on a long leafless stalk from the root (scape) ; the 
flowers are mixed with membranous bracts, the outside ones surrounding the whole cluster 
and forming a kind of outer calyx (involucre), while the two outermost of all unite and lengthen 
into a tubular sheath down the upper part of the flower-stem. Calyx-tube with 5 teeth, dry and 
membranous, free from and inserted below the seedcase (inferior) ; corolla of 5 petals, not 
united, only adhering at the base, inserted below the seedcase (hypogynous) ; stamens 5, inserted 
on the base of the petals or between them; styles 5, hairy below; fruit a i-seeded capsule, 
decaying to free the seed. Herbs with the leaves all from the root (radical). {Armenia. Linn.) 
(1) Common Thrift. (Stat'ice marit'ima.) — Calyx-teeth short; leaves narrow, with x vein. 
(2) Plantain-leaved Thrift. (Stat'ice plantagin'ea.) — Calyx-teeth long ; leaves broader, with 
3 or 5 parallel veins. 
1. Common Thrift, Sea-Pink. (Stat'ice marit'ima. Miller.)— As just described. 
The flowers are pink, rarely white, in dense heads terminating the leafless stalks (scapes), which 
are 6-12 inches high, smooth or downy; the fruit is rather longer than the dry membranous, 
shortly-toothed calyx-tube, which remains with and almost forms wings round it. The leaves 
are all from the root, forming dense tufts ; they are narrow, fleshy, downy, and always have 
one prominent vein or midrib. ( Statice Armenia. Linn. ; Armenia maritima. Willd.) 
This little plant is a common favourite in cottage gardens for bordering owing to its compact 
growth. [. Plate 7. 
A form — var. Statice planifolia — with broader leaves, the earlier ones with 3 parallel veins, 
is found on mountain tops, and is frequently classed as a variety. {Armenia planifolia. Syme.) 
Common on muddy or sandy sea-shores, and on maritime rocks in England, Scotland, and 
Ireland ; also on rocks and damp places on the top of some of the Scotch mountains. April — 
October. Perennial. 
2. Plantain-leaved Thrift. (Stat'ice plantagin'ea. All.)— A very similar species 
to the last, the flower-stems usually taller, the calyx-teeth much longer, and the leaves much 
broader and with 3 or 5 parallel veins. {Armenia plantaginea. Willd.) 
Local. Sandy pastures by the sea in Jersey. June — August. Perennial. 
