Spergula nodosa 
Knotted Spurrey 
t 
SPERGULA Lin. Gen. PI. Decandria Pentagynia. 
Cal. 5-phyllus. Petala 5 integra. Capf. ovata, i-locularis, 5-valvis. 
Raii Syn. Gen. 24. Herbje Pent apet ala: Vasculifera;. 
SPERGULA nodofa foliis oppofitis Tubulatis laevibus caulibus fimplicibus. Lin. Syjl. V egetab. p. 363. 
Sp. PI. p. 630. 
ALSINE foliis fuperioribus fafciculatis. Haller. Hjjl. n. 871. 
STELLARIA nodofa. Scopoli FI. Cam. n. 545. 
ALSINE nodofa Germanica. Baub. Pin. p. 251. 
ALSINE paluftris, ericas folio, polygonoides, articulis crebioribus, flore albo pulchello. Pluk. aim. 
23- >■ 7 - fiS- 4- 
SAXIFRAGA paluftris Anglica. Park. 427. 
ALSINE paluftris foliis tenuiffimis, feu Saxifraga paluftris Anglica. Ger. emac. 567. 568. Rail Syn. p. 
350. Englifli Marfti-Saxifrage. Hudfon FI. Angl. ed. 2. p. 203. Ligbtjoot FI. Scot. p. 244. 
RADIX perennis, fibrofa. 
CAULES ex una radice plures, palmares et ultra, nunc 
procumbentes, nunc afcendentes, poft floref- 
centiam fiepe repentes, fimplices feu ramofi, 
teretes, tenues, glabri, parce pilofi, pilis ad 
lentem globuliferis, crebris geniculis intercepti, 
geniculis tumidis. 
FOLIA radicalia plurima, casfpitofa, laste virentia, line- 
aria, acuta, uncialia, fubcarnofa, glabra, cau- 
lina inferiora paulo breviora, connata, fuperiora 
breviffima, teretiufcula, fafciculata, ex alis ' 
prolifera. : 
FLORES albi, delicatuli, in fummis caulibus et ramulis, 
majores quam pro plantuhc modo. 
PEDUNCULI eredi, femipollicares. 
CALYX : Perianthium pentaphyllum, foliolis ob- 
longis, concavis, fubpilofis, pilis ut in caule. 
fig- 1 • 
COROLLA : Petala quinque, alba, calyce duplo 
longiora, ovato-rotundata, integerrima. Jig. 2. 
STAMINA : Filamenta decem, fubulata, alba, corolla 
breviora. Antherze concolores, incumbentes, 
primo bilobas, lobis oblongis, parallelis, jig. 3. ' 
PISTILLUM: Germen turbinatum. Styli quinque, 
filiformes, villofuli, reflexi. Stigmata fim-' 
plicia, fig. 4- 
PERICARP1UM : Capsula parva, ovata, calyce te&a, ■ 
unilocularis, (juinquevalvis. 
SEMINA plurima, minima, nigricantia. 
ROOT perennial and fibrous. 
STALKS feveral from one root, four inches or more in 
length, fometimes procumbent, fometimes 
nearly upright, after flowering often creeping, 
Ample or branched, round, flender, finoothy 
fparingly haired, the hairs appearing globular 
at top when magnified, having numerous 
joints which are fwelled. 
LEAVES next the root numerous, forming a turf, of a 
beautiful dark green colour, linear, pointed, 
about an inch in length, fomewhat fleftiy, 
fmooth, the lowermoft ftalk-leaves a little 
longer than the radical ones, joined together 
at bottom, the uppermoft ftalk-leaves very 
ftiort, from their alas producing fmall tufts of 
leaves, the rudiments of branches. 
’ FLOWERS white, and delicate, fitting on the tops of 
the ftalks and branches, large in proportion to 
the fize of the plant. 
FLOWER-STALKS upright, about half an inch in 
length. 
CALYX : Perianthium compofed of five leaves, which 
are oblong, hollow, (lightly hairy, the hairs 
like thofe on the ftalk. Jig. 1 . 
COROLLA compofed of five white petals, twice the 
length of the calyx, of a roundifh cgg-fhape, 
perfectly entire, jig. 2. 
STAMINA : ten Filaments tapering, white, (horter 
than the corolla. Antheraj of the fame colour, 
lying acrofs the filament, at firft compofed of 
two oblong lobes parallel to each other, fig. 3. 
PISTILLUM : Germen broad at bottom, narrow at top. 
Styles five, filiform, (lightly villous and 
reflexed. Stigmata Ample, jig. 4. 
SEED-VESSEL : a fmall ovate Capsule covered with 
the calyx, of one cavity and five valves. 
SEEDS numerous, very minute, of a blackifti colour. 
The Spergula nodofa recommends itfelf to our notice by the beauty of its verdure, and the delicacy of its 
bloffoms ; the largenefs and whitenefs of which, joined to its place of growth, ferve alfo to diftinguHh it from 
thole plants which may have fome refemblance to it in their foliage. 
It grows in moift fituations, frequently among herbage, and fometimes out of Walls, Rocks, and Stones. 
I have obferved it growing out of the wall by the Thames fide, in feveral places betwixt Lambeth and Putney. 
I have alfo found it on Hounjlow Heath with the Sagina procumbens and Centunculus minimus. It flowers in July 
and - lugufi. 
About London it is a fcarce plant ; but in the north of England it is very common on the borders of rivulets, and 
grows generally more upright than with us : a fmall fpecimen of it, in this date, is reprefented on the plate. 
