Carnation grow well on the high land, where they form some of the
-chief garden flowers.—Distr. Mediterranean region.
51. D. chinensis, Linn.—Indian Pink grows in gardens cultivated
; rather common. Bot. Mag. 25.—Hab. China.
52. D. barbatus, Linn.—Several garden varieties of Sweet William
are cultivated and rather common in gardens. Alt. 2 to 4.
Bot. Mag. 207.—Hab. Pyrenees, &c.
Drymaria, Willd.
58. D. cordata, Willd.—Small white-star-flowered weed. Crows
wild and is very common. Alt. 2 to 5.—A common weed in tropical
countries.
Polycarpon, Linn.
54. P. tetrap h y llum , Linn.—One of the most abundant small
weeds, occurring everywhere on the gravel walks of flower gardens,
&c. The Hermitage.—Distr. Europe, Asia, Africa.
Silene, Linn.
55. S. galliea, Linn.—Small pink-flowered Catch Ply, occasionally
found growing in the neighbourhood of cornfields at Broad
Bottom, &c.—Hab. S. Europe.
Spergula, Linn.
56. S. arvensis, Linn.—This little trailing plant, with its small
white blossoms, is one of the greatest weeds of the place, growing in
hayfields, gardens, roadsides, &c. Wild and very common. Alt. 3 to 5.
Flowers in August.—Distr. Temp, and arctic Europe, N. Africa, &c.
15. P o r t u l a c a c k j E (.Purslane Family).
Portulaca, Linn.
57. P. oleracea, Linn.—Purslane grows wild and is very common
over the barren rocky outskirts of the Island. C. Alt. '04 to 3. After
the rains in the months of March and July, this plant springs up,
and gives quite a greenish hue to the otherwise barren, rocky parts.
I t is gathered by the native people and used as spinach, for which
it affords a very good substitute.—Widely distributed and probably
indigenous in St. Helena.
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