SPURREY, in botany: A genus of plants belonging to the class of decandria, and the order of p-nagynia; and in the natural system arranged under the 22d order, Caryophyllaceae. The calyx is pentaphyllous; the petals five, and undivided; the capsule oval, unilocular, and containing five valves. There are five species, arvensis, nodosa, pentandra, laricina, and saginoides; all of which are British: 1. The arvensis, corn spurrey, has linear furrowed leaves, from eight to twenty in a whirl. The flowers are small, white, and terminal. It is frequent in corn-fields. In Holland it is cultivated as food for cattle, and has the advantage of growing on the very poorest soils; but does not afford a great deal of food. Poultry are fond of the seeds; and the inhabitants of Finland and Norway make bread of them when their crops of corn fail. Horses, sheep, goats, and swine, eat it. Cows refuse it.

2. The nodosa, knotted spurrey. Several stalks arise from one root, sometimes reclining and sometimes erect, and from three to five inches high. The leaves are smooth, of a fine green, narrow, pointed, and opposite. The flowers are white, terminal, with yellow anther.

3. Pentandra, small spurrey. The leaves are very narrow, and grow in whorls at the joints. The seeds are black with a white circle. It flowers in July.

4. Laricina, larch-leaved spurrey. Several stalks arise... Sperm, arise from one root, from an inch to an inch and a half high; the leaves are linear, subulate, and acuminate, somewhat hairy on the edges, and their points turned to one side of the stalk. The petals are white and about the length of the calyx. Lightfoot found this species on a hill in the isle of Bute. He is doubtful whether the *Sagina procumbens*, var. s of Linnæus, be not the same plant with this. It flowers in July.

5. *Saginoides*, pearlwort spurrey, has smooth, linear, opposite leaves: the peduncles are solitary and very long. Aiton says it is a native of England, and flowers from June to August.