THE KNOT-GRASS FAMILY 
1 1 1 
i foot long, much branched, slender, tangled, and reddish ; and the leaves are stalkless (sessile), 
oval or roundish, and opposite, with large white membranous stipules. 
Very rare. In wet sandy or boggy places ; in Devon and Cornwall. July — September. 
Perennial. 
II. RUPTURE-WORT. (HERNIARIA. Linn.) — Flowers minute, green, crowded in clusters in 
the axils of the leaves. Calyx of 5 oblong sepals, united at the base, remaining with the fruit 
(persistent) ; corolla reduced to 5 filament-like petals alternating with 5 stamens, all inserted on a 
ring round the seedcase (perigynous) ; carpels 2, united into a 1 -celled seedcase with a minutely 
short style and 2 stigmas ; fruit i-celled, i-seeded, decaying to free the seed (indehiscent), and 
enveloped in the calyx. Small prostrate herbs much branched, with opposite leaves and minute 
membranous stipules. 
(1) Smooth Rupture-wort. (Herniaria glabra.) — Stem with minute curved hairs; leaves 
hairless. 
(2) Fringed Rupture-wort. (Herniaria cilidta.) — Stem with curved hairs on upper side only ; 
leaves fringed with hairs. 
(3) *Hairy Rupture-wort. (Herniaria hirsuta.) — Stem and leaves covered with straight 
spreading hairs. 
1. Smooth Rupture-wort. (Hernidria gT&bra. Linn.)— As just described. The little 
clusters of small green flowers are crowded into leafy spikes ; the sepals are obtuse and destitute or 
almost destitute of hairs; the stems are from the crown of the root and are very numerous, 3-12 
inches long, branched, spreading, and woody, with minute curved-back (decurved) hairs ; the 
opposite leaves are oblong, without hairs (glabrous), and all of a pale yellowish-green ; and the 
stipules are triangular and fringed. 
Very rare. On sandy commons and field borders ; near Cambridge, in Lincolnshire, and Suffolk. 
July — September. Annual or biennial. 
2. Fringed Rupture-wort. (Herni&ria ciliata. Bab.) — A very similar but stouter, 
evergreen, shrubby species with the lower flower-clusters more distant from one another, the sepals 
tipped with a strong bristle, only the upper side of the stem away from the ground hairy, the leaves 
rounder and fringed with hairs (ciliate), and the stipules whiter and larger. 
Very rare. On dry banks and common land; at the Lizard and in Guernsey. July — August. 
Perennial. 
3. *Haipy Rupture-wort. (Herni&ria hirsuta. Linn.)— Another similar species to the 
Smooth Rupture- wort (Herniaria glabra) but with the flowers having a very hairy calyx, and the 
stems and narrow leaves being covered with straight spreading hairs. \Plate 38. 
Very rare. On sandy ground ; near Christchurch, Hampshire. July — August. Annual. 
III. STRAPWORT. (CORRIGIOLA. Linn.) — Flowers small, white, in small clusters terminating 
the stem and branches (cymes, spikes, or racemes). Calyx of 5 sepals, united at the base ; corolla 
of 5 oval or oblong petals as long as the sepals; stamens 5; carpels 3, united into a seedcase 
which is surmounted by 3 stigmas, styles o ; capsule 1 -celled and 1 -seeded, enveloped in the calyx, 
decaying to free the seed (indehiscent). Prostrate herbs or undershrubs with hairless (glabrous) 
alternate leaves, which are narrow and fleshy, and have membranous stipules. 
Sand Strapwort. (Corrigiola littoralis. Linn.)— The only British species. As 
just described. The small white flowers are clustered in small heads or clusters (cymes) terminating 
