A R E N A R I A rubra.
P u rp le S an dw o rt.
DECANDRIA Trigynia,
Gen. Char. Cal. 5-leaved, fpreading. Petals 5,
undivided. Capjule fuperior, of 1 cell, with many
feeds.
Spec. Char. Leaves linear, tipped with a fmall briftle.
Stipulae membranous, fheathing. Seeds com-
prefled, angular, roughifh.
Syn. Arenaria rubra. Lin n . Sp. P L 606. Sm. FI.
B r it . 4 7 9 . Hudf. 1 9 2 . W ith . 4 2 2 . H u ll. 9 6 .
Relh. 1 7 2 . Sibth. 1 4 2 . Abbot. 9 8 .
Spergula purpurea. B a ii Syn. 351.
T h i s fpecies o f Arenaria is one o f th e m o ft com m o n in
d ry fandy fields, fpreading widely o n th e g ro u n d , an d flowering
in Ju ly an d A u g u ft; b u t th e blofloms expand only in b rig h t
w e a th e r, w h e n th e ir b e au ty a n d b rillian c y will be found
w o rth y o f a n a ccu rate e x am in a tio n .
Root fmall, fp in d le -fh ap ed , b ra n c h e d , a n n u a l. S tem s p ro -
flrate, b ra n c h e d , fpreading in a c ircu la r fo rm , flaccid, leafy,
ro u n d , fm o o th , a little tum id a t th e ir jo in ts . Leaves flat,
lin e a r, n a rrow , p o in ted , e n tire , tipped w ith a fmall b riftle , g lau cous
or r a th e r h o a ry , fom ew h at fu c cu len t, n e a rly th e len g th o f
e ach correfponding jo in t o f the Item, an d connec ted a t th e ir bafe
b y a p a ir o f w h ite m em b ran o u s cloven ftipulae. Panicle s
te rm in a l, leafy, fo rk ed , th e ir te rm in a tio n s ra c em o fe ; th e ir
flower-ftalks d owny and vifeid. Ca lyx o f 5 h a iry leaves,
w ith o u t rib s, th e ir m a rg in m em b ran o u s. Pe tals genera lly
Ih o rte r th a n th e calyx. Capfule equal to th e calyx, ovate, o f
3 valves. Seeds n um e ro u s, p a le -b row n , eomprefled, o f a n
an g u la r an d fomew hat wedge-like figure, ro u g h o n th e ir o u te r
edge w ith little {harp tu b e rc le s. By th e figure o f th e feeds
a n d th e briftles th a t te rm in a te th e leaves, th is p la n t is d iftin -
g uifhed from A . marina a n d its v arieties, w h ic h we hope o n
fome fu tu re occafion to illu ftra te .