i n [ 2 1 0 5 ]
S P E R G U L A saoginoides.
Smooth Awl-shaped Spurrey.
DECANDRIA Pentagynia,
Gen. Char. Cal. 5-leaved. Petals 5, undivided.
Capsule superior, ovate, of 1 cell and 5 valves.
Spec. Char. Leaves opposite, awl-shaped, pointless,
naked. Flower-stalks solitary, very long, smooth.
S y n . Spergula saginoides. Linn. Sp. PI, 631. Sm.
FI. B r it. 504. Hull. ed. 2. 136.
Alsine foliis gramineis sæpè fasciculatis, glabris, pe-
dunculis lorigis midis unifions. Gmel. Sib. v. 4 . 157.
Herb. Linn.
W e received this from the late Mr. J. Mackay, who gathered
it on Ben Lawers in 1794. Mr. G. Don appears to
have found it previously on Mal-ghyrdy.
The root is fibrous and perennial. Whole plant quite
smooth, in which last respect, and the want of a bristly point
to the leaves, it essentially and constantly differs from S. suhu-
lata, t. 1082. The stems are decumbent at their lower part,
then erect, mostly branched, leafy, round, with rather tumid
joints. Leaves awl-shaped, acute, joined at their base.
Flower-stalks terminal, solitary, erect, round, naked, very
smooth, often as long as the stems, each bearing a rather
drooping white flower, somewhat larger than those of S. suhi-
laia. Calyx-leaves ovate, obtuse, even, with hardly any
ribs, gibbous at their base. Petals roundish, scarcely so long
as the calyx. Stamens 10, about as long as the petals. Capsule
ovate, of 5 valves, twice as long as the calyx. Seeds
roundish kidney-shaped, brown, smooth, not bordered.
Professor Swartz describes but 5 stamens in his S. saginoides.
Whether our3 be the same or not, we are certain it is
that of Linnaeus.