THE PINK FAMILY 
47 
Gothland Sandwort. (Arenaria gothica, Fr.)— Another similar species to the 
Fringed Sandwort (Arenaria ciliata), differing in the leaves being more tufted and downy, and 
fringed with curved hairs. 
Very rare. Limestone rocks in west Yorkshire. June — September. Annual. 
Sea Purslane. (Arenaria peploides, Linn.) — Flowers J inch across, greenish-white, 
solitary, on short stalks in the axils of the leaves, some of the flowers having no stamens and some 
no carpels, others having both (sub-dioecious). Sepals 5, blunt, with membranous margins ; 
petals 5, entire, not longer than the sepals; stamens 10 or o; styles 3-5 or o; capsule large, 
round, fleshy, much longer than the sepals, opening by the same number of teeth as there 
are styles, 1 -celled with 1 or 2 seeds. The stems 4-8 inches high, fleshy, slightly branched, 
very leafy ; and the leaves egg-shaped and pointed, fleshy, very numerous and crowded. The 
whole plant deep shining green and quite smooth, forming tangled masses on the seashore. 
Common. On sandy or shingly seashores. May — September. Perennial. 
Mossy Cyphel. (Arenaria sedoides, Froel.)— Flowers about \ inch across, greenish, 
solitary, generally without petals, and without either stamens or carpels (dioecious). Sepals 5, 
blunt, 3-veined, with narrow membranous margins ; petals o, or minute and thread-like ; 
stamens 10 or o; styles 3 or o ; capsule oval, \ longer than the sepals, opening from 
the top to the base by 3 teeth, 1 -celled, containing few seeds. The stems 1-2 inches 
long, densely covered with very narrow, rather fleshy leaves fringed with hairs, and forming 
a compact cushion often 1 foot across. The whole plant is of a dull yellowish-green 
colour. 
Very rare. On broken rocky ground on the tops of Scotch mountains. June — August. 
Perennial. 
PEARL-WORT. (SAGINA, LINN.) — Flowers small, white, on long stalks, in terminal clusters 
(cymes). Sepals 4 or 5, not united (free) ; petals 4 or 5, the same number as the sepals, entire or 
slightly notched, sometimes minute or absent ; stamens 4 when there are only 4 sepals, 5 or 
10 when there are 5 sepals ; carpels 4 or 5, the same number as the sepals, united into a 1 -celled 
seedcase and separating into 4 or 5 styles. Fruit a capsule opening from top to base by as many 
teeth as there are styles, i-celled and many-seeded. Small herbs with short, hair-like, opposite 
leaves and stems swollen at the joints (nodes). 
Procumbent Pearl- wort. (Sagina procumbens, Linn.)— Flowers a inch across, few, 
in loose clusters (cymes). Sepals 4, rarely 5, blunt, spreading in fruit in the form of a cross ; 
petals 4, rarely 5, shorter than the sepals, or o ; stamens and styles 4, rarely 5 ; capsule oval, 
opening from top to base by 4, rarely 5, teeth, a little longer than the sepals ; the stems 1-3 inches 
long, without hairs, prostrate, much branched, spreading from a central rosette ; and the leaves 
narrow, opposite, abruptly pointed and united at the base, growing in tufts. A tiresome weed in 
paths and yards. 
Very common. In waste and cultivated ground, especially on garden paths and walls. May 
— September. Perennial. 
Seaside Pearl-wort. (Sagina maritima, Don.)— A very similar plant to the Pro- 
cumbent Pearl-wort (Sagina procumbens), with 4 sepals, petals, stamens, styles and capsule 
teeth, the petals sometimes absent, the sepals only slightly spreading in fruit and often 
tinged with purple, and the stems and leaves rather fleshy, dark green often tinged 
with red. 
Common on seashores and by tidal rivers. May — September. Annual. 
