[ 1744 ]
ARENARIA fastigiata,
Level-topped Sandwort.
DECANDRIA Trigynia.
Gen. Char. Cal. 5-leaved, spreading. Petals .5,
undivided, Capsule superior, of 1 cell, with many
seeds,
Spec. Char. Stem erect, straight. Flowers crowded,
Leaves awl-shaped. Petals very short. Lateral ribs
of the calyx dilated.
Syn. Arenaria fasciculata. Ja c q . Austr. v. 2 . 49. t. 182.
L o n . Herb. B rit. fa s c . 6. 136.
Stellaria rubra. Scop. Cam. ed. 2. n. 5 3 8 . t. 17.
Alsine n. 8 7 0 , * H a ll. Hist. v. 1. 3 8 4 . i, 17. f . 2,
Mr. GEORGE DON had the good fortune to discover
this new British plant on rocks in the mountains of Clova,
Angusshire, and also in Fifeshire. He rightly referred it to
Jacquin’s A.fasciculata, not having the means of knowing
that the plant of Linnaeus and Gouan is a very distinct species,
distinguished by the long unequal leaves of its calyx, and
other marks, as appears by the authentic Linnsean specimen
and Gouan’s description. Both plants are very distinct from
Alsine mucronata. The name we have chosen is peculiarly
expressive of the habit of thé plant when ripening seed. Ta
account .for the seemingly preposterous synonym of Scopoli,
it must be observed that he unites Arenaria to Stellaria, and
that the stem of the species before us is often purplish. About
Hallpr’s plant there is no question.
Ropt annual, zigzag, tapering, Stem 1 or more, 4 or 5
inches high, erect, round, leafy, nearly smooth, alternately
branched upwards, the branches many-flowered, dichotomous,
at length level-topped. Leaves awl-shaped, rigid, very slender,
permanent till the stem decays. Calyx-leaves all nearly equal,
acute, smooth, green at the keel, with a slender white central
rib and a very broad lateral one on each side reaching almost
to the margin, an important mark of this species. Petals
small, white. Stamens 10, whose antheras have been observed
by Mygind to be at first united in pairs. Capsule oblong, of
3 valves. Seeds beautifully toothed, on long stalks. It flowers
in June.