92 
BRITISH WILD FLOWERS. 
THE SEA-SIDE ITERON’S-BILL. (E. maritimum, Smith.) 
This species is somewhat rare, and it is only found on gravelly or sandy sea-shores in the South of England. 
The flowers are small, and of a pale-red; but their petals fall almost as soon as they have expanded. It is a 
perennial, and flowers from May till October. 
CHAPTER XIX. 
THE WOOD-SORREL FAMILY. (Oxalidejs, Dec.) 
Character of the Order. —Sepals 5, sometimes slightly cohering 
at the base, persistent, equal. Petals five, hypogynous, equal, un- 
guiculate, with a spirally twisted sestivation. Stamens 10, usually 
more or less monadelphous, those opposite the petals forming an inner 
series, and longer than the others ; anthers 2-celled, innate. Ovarium 
with 5 angles and 5 cells ; styles 5, filiform ; stigmata capitate or 
somewhat bifid. Fruit capsular, membranous, with 5 cells, and from 
5 to 10 valves. Seeds few, fixed to the axis, enclosed within a fleshy 
arillus, which curls back at the maturity of the fruit, aud expels the 
seeds with elasticity. Albumen between cartilaginous and fleshy. 
Embryo inverted, the length of the albumen, with a long radicle, and 
foliaceous cotyledons. Herbaceous plants, or uuder-shrubs. Leaves 
alternate, compound, sometimes simple by abortion. ( Lindley .) 
Description, &c. —This order contains only one genus of British plants. 
GENUS I. 
THE WOOD-SORREL. (Oxalis, Lin.) 
Lin. Syst. DECANDRIA PENTAGYNIA. 
Generic Character _Sepals 5, distinct, or united at tlie base, i exterior alternately shorter. Styles 5. Stigmata pencilled, or 
Petals 5. Stamens 10; filaments slightly monadelphous; the 5 capitate. Capsule 5-cornered, oblong or cylindrical. (Lindley.) 
Description, &c.— There are two species of this genus which are British plants, but only one that 
is common. The name of Oxalis is derived from Otvys, sharp or acid, in allusion to the qualities of the plant. 
Its English name of Wood-Sorrel, alludes to its usual place of growth being in woods, and its acidity, the 
Sorrel being a remarkably acid plant. The plant is placed in the Linnaean class Decandria, on account of its 
ten stamens ; and in the order Pentagynia, from its five styles. 
1.— THE COMMON WOOD-SORREL. (Oxalis Acetosella, Lin.) 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 762 ; 2nd ed., t. 661 ; and our Jig. ternate, inversely heart-shaped, hairy. Root of many scaly joints. 
5, in PI. 19. Stamens all simple. (Smith.) 
Specific Character. — Stalks radical, single-flowered. Leaves 
Description, &c. —This is a most beautiful little plant, both in its flowers and leaves ; the flowers being 
large and white, hut delicately veined with purple, and the leaves being beautifully shaped, and tinged with 
red. The leaflets are, indeed, often purple beneath, and they droop at the approach of rain, and when the sun 
goes down at night. The flowers also fold up their petals in the evening ; 
“ shrinking from the chilly night 
They droop and close, but with fair morning’s touch 
Rise on their stems all open aud upright.”— Montaigne. 
The seed-vessel, when ripe, bends downwards, so that it is completely hidden by the leaves; and hence, it 
