[ I(?3 I ]
j./8
P O L Y C A R P O N t e t r a p h y l lum .
Four-leaved A ll-fe ed .
TRIANDRM Trigynia.
G en. C h a r . Cal. 5-leaved. Petals 5, ovate, minute.
Cap/, of 1 cell and 3 valves. Seeds numerous.
S p e c . C h a r . . . . . .
Syn . Polycarpon tetraphyllum. Linn. Sp. PI. 131.
Sm. FI. Brit. 162. Hudf. 60. With. 176.
Hull. 30. Dickf. H. Sicc.fafc. 17. 6.
G a t h e r e d by A . B. Lambert, efq. on the beach at
Weymouth towards Portland ifland, flowering in the latter
part of fummer. It grows on feveral parts of the fouth-weft
eoaft of England, and feems to have been firft noticed there
by Mr. Hudfon. In the fouth of Europe it is frequent in dry
wafte ground, not being confined to a maritime fituation,
nor to any particular feafon of flowering.
Root fmall, annual. Stem much branched, and fpreading
fiat on the ground, leafy, terminating in numerous forked
panicles. Leaves oppofite, obovate, entire, fmooth, a little
flefliy, in the lower part of the Item crofiing each other in
double pairs. Stipulae and bra&eae membranous, white,
pointed. Flowers fmall, greenilh-white. Petals fhorter than
the calyx, blunt. Fruit of 3 ovate or lanceolate concave polifhed
valves.
This genus belongs to tbe fame natural order as Stellaria,
Cerajlium, 8cc. nor (as its ftipulae and leaves would at firft
fight lead us to fufpeft) is it allied to lllecebrum. The Do-
natia of Forfter is furely without any reafon referred by the
younger Linnaeus to Polycarpon, from which its 3-leaved
calyx, 9 petals, and totally different habit (whatever its fruit
may prove when known) keep it widely feparate.