HERNIARIA, RUPTURE-WORT, in botany, a genus of the pentandria digynia class. The calix consists of five segments; it has no corolla; and the capsule contains one seed. There are four species, three of them natives of Britain, viz. the glabra, or smooth rupture-wort; the hirsuta, or rough rupture-wort; and the lenticulata, or sea rupture-wort. The leaves may be used as a mild restraining; but have no title to their former reputation of curing ruptures.