Glaux maritima. Sea-Milkwort. 2

CMathews Del & Sc.

Pub by W. Baxter Botanic Garden, Oxford1837.

7

GLAU'X*.

Linnean Class and Order. PENTA'NDRIA†, MONOGYNIA. Natural Order. PRIMULA CEE, Vent.-Lindl. Svn, p. 182.; Introd. to Nat. Syst. of Bot. p. 225.-Rich. by Macgilliv. p. 431.Mack. Fl. Hibern. p. 192.-PLANTAGI'NEE, Loud. Hort. Brit. p. 530.-SALICARIE, sect. 2. Juss. Gen. Pl. pp. 330 & 333.—Sm. Gram. of Bot. pp. 170 & 171.-SYRINGALES; subord. PRIMULOSE; sect. PRIMULINE; type, PRIMULACEE; subtype, PRIMULIDA; Burn. Outl. of Bot. pp. 900, 958, 1020, 1024, & 1025.— CALYCANTHEME, Linn.

GEN. CHAR. Calyx (fig. 1.) inferior, bell-shaped, coloured, of 1 sepal, in 5 deep, spreading, obtuse, recurved segments, permanent. Corolla none. Filaments (fig. 2.) 5, awl-shaped, upright, not longer than the calyx. Anthers roundish. Germen (fig. 3.) superior, egg-shaped. Stigma capitate. Capsule (fig. 4.) globose, pointed, of 1 cell, and 5 valves. Seeds about 5, roundish (see fig. 7.), attached to a central, globose, pitted placenta (see fig. 6).

The monosepalous, bell-shaped, 5-cleft, coloured calyx; and the superior, 1-celled, 5-valved capsule; will distinguish this from other genera, destitute of a corolla, in the same class and order. One species British.

GLAU'X MARI'TIMA. Common Sea-milkwort, Black Saltwort. Newton's Knotgrass.

SPEC. CHAR.

Engl. Bot. t. 13.-Hook. Fl. Lond. t. 188.—Curt. Brit. Entomol. v. xii. t. 548.Ray's Syn. p. 285.-Linn. Sp. Pl. p. 301.-Huds. Fl. Angl. (2nd ed.) p. 101.Willd. Sp. Pl. v. i. pt. 1. p. 1210.-Sm. Fl. Brit. v. i. p. 268. Engl. Fl. v. i. p. 336.-With. (7th edit.) v. ii. p. 340.-Gray's Nat. Arr. v. ii. p. 733.-Lindl. Syn. p. 183.-Hook. Brit. Fl. p. 109.-Lightf. Fl. Scot. v. i. p. 147.-Davies' Welsh Bot. p. 25.-Relh. Fl. Cant. (3rd ed.) p. 102.-Hook. Fl. Scot. p. 82.— Grev. Fl. Edin. p. 56.- Fl. Devon. pp. 43 & 142.-Johnston's Fl. Berw. v. i. p. 64.-Winch's Fl. of Northumb. and Durham, p. 16.-Burn. Outl. of Bot. v. ii. p. 1026.-Mack. Catal. of Pl. of Irel. p. 25.; Fl. Hibernica, p. 192.-Glaux exigua maritima, Johnson's Gerarde, p. 562.

LOCALITIES. On the sea shore, and in muddy salt-marshes, abundant," but from its being frequently concealed among grass, or under the edge of ditch banks, it does not obtrude itself upon the casual observer."-Cambridgeshire; Wisbeach; Bardwell Fens: Rev. R. RELHAN.-Cheshire; Shores of the sea, and estuaries: Mr. H. C. WATSON, in New Bot. Guide.-Cornwall; On the sea coast: Mr. H. C. WATSON, ibid.-Cumberland; Sea coast, Abbey Holm: N. J. WINCH, Esq.-Devon; Topsham marshes; Exminster marshes; at Hackney near Kingsteignton; Plymouth, &c.; Fl. Devon. Side of the river near Teignmouth: Mr. F. RUSSEL.-Dorset ; In Portland Island: Dr. WITHERING. On Waste ground at the back of the promenade, Weymouth: Aug. 1837; Rev. A. BLOXAM.-Durham; Salt marshes on Tyne, Tweed, Blyth, Wear, Tees, &c. : N. J. WINCH, Esq. Banks of the Tyne, below Friar's Goose: R. BOWMAN, in N. B. G.-Essex; River side near Purfleet: Dr. J. MITCHELL, in Fl. Metr.

Fig. 1. A Flower.-Fig. 2. Stamens and Pistil.-Fig. 3. Germen, Style, and Stigma. Fig. 4. Capsule.-Fig. 5. Transverse section of the same.-Fig. 6. The Placenta (receptacle of the seed).-Fig. 7. A Seed.—Figs. 2 & 3 a little magnified.

*From glaucus, a sea-green colour.

+ See Anchusa sempervirens, folio 48, note .

Gloucestersh. Near Bristol: Miss WORSLEY. Avon, by Clifton: Rev. H. T. ELLICOMBE. Below King's Weston, near Bristol: Dr. WITHERING.-Hampshire: Beach, Fareham: Rev. S. PALMER, in Mag. Nat. Hist. v. ii. p. 276.Kent; On the coast: Mr. W. PAMPLIN, jun. South Kent: Rev. G. E. SMITH. Between Plumstead and Erith: J. F. YOUNG, in Fl. Metrop. Marshes about Dartford; about Greenhithe; and by the river side near Rochester: Mr. D. COOPER, in Fl. Metrop.-Lancash. On the sea shore: Mr. H. C. WATSON, in N. B. G. Near Southport: G. CROSFIELD, Esq. North Shore, and Knott's Hole near Liverpool: Dr. BOSTOCK.-Norfolk; Yarmouth: Mr. J. PAGET, in N. B. G. Near Lynn: Mr. G. COOPER, ibid.-Northumberland; In salt marshes on Tyne, Tweed, Blyth, &c.: N. J. WINCH, Esq.-Somersetsh. Near Huntspill: W.C. TREVELYAN, Esq.-Staffordsh. Salt marsh at Ingestre: Mr. BAGOT.-In Sussex: Rev. G. E. SMITH.-Yorksh. Filby Bay near Scarborough: Rev. A. BLOXHAM, and E. F. WITTS, Esq.-WALES, Anglesey; On the sea coast: Rev. H. DAVIES.-Caernarvonsh. On the sea shore: Mr. H. C. WATSON, in N. B. G.-Denbighsh. On the coast: Mr. H. C. WATSON, ibid.-Merionethsh. Sands, and mud banks near Burmouth: H. WOOLLCOMBE, Esq.-SCOTLAND. Berwicksh. On the sea shore in muddy places, abun. dant: Sir W. J. HOOKER. Muddy places on the sea coast to the southward; and sides of the Tweed above the bridge: Dr. JOHNSTON. Shores of the Frith; North Queensferry; and Musselburgh Links: Mr. NEILL. About Burntisland and Pettycur: Dr. GREVILLE.-IRELAND. Sea shores, and muddy salt marshes, abundant: Mr. J. T. MACKAY.

Perennial.-Flowers in June and July.

Root long, thickish, and jointed; producing fibres from the joints. Stems procumbent at the base, then upright, from 2 to 5 inches high, branched round, smooth, very leafy. Leaves opposite, sometimes becoming alternate, especially towards the summit of the stem, sessile, elliptic-oblong, entire, smooth, pale on the under surface, darker green and marked with impressed punctures on the upper. Stipulas none. Flowers axillary, solitary, numerous, nearly sessile, of a delicate rose-colour, minutely sprinkled with deeper tints of the same colour.

The whole plant is smooth, succulent, and saltish to the taste. Cows are said to eat it.

"NATURE never did betray

The heart that loved her; 'tis her privilege
Through all the years of this our life, to lead

From joy to joy; for she can so inform

The mind that is within us, so impress

With quietness and beauty, and so feed

With lofty thoughts, that neither evil tongues,
Rash judgments, nor the sneers of selfish men,

Shall e'er prevail against us, or disturb

Our cheerful faith, that all which we behold
Is full of blessings."

WORDSWORTH,

C.Nathews. Del. & Sc.