436 Caryophyllaceae Stellaria 



It has been reported from all parts of the state and all authors who report 

 it mention its weedy nature. I recall that when I was a boy 60 years ago 

 we pulled it by the bushel and fed it to the hogs. At the present time it is 

 rare and I very seldom see a specimen any more, although I admit that 1 

 rarely botanize gardens or cornfields. I am not able to explain its disap- 

 pearance but I do not think that clean cultivation is responsible for its 

 scarcity. 



Nat. of Eu. ; now naturalized nearly throughout N. A. 



87. CARYOPHYLLACEAE Reichenb. Pink Family 



Sepals separate, more or less spreading; styles separate to the base; ovary sessile. 

 Stipules present. 

 Leaves opposite. 



Styles 2 2475. Paronychia, p. 442. 



Styles 3 2450. Spergularia, p. 442. 



Leaves whorled; styles 5 2449. Spergula, p. 442. 



Stipules lacking. 



Capsules opening by as many entire or at length 2-cleft valves as there are 

 styles; petals entire or merely notched at the apex. 

 Styles as many as the sepals and alternate with them; petals of the same number 



or lacking 2433. Sagina, p. 441. 



Styles fewer than the sepals, rarely of the same number and then opposite them. 



2443. Arenaria, p. 441. 



Capsules opening by twice as many valves or teeth as there are styles; petals 

 deeply cleft or lacking. 

 Capsule short, ovate or oblong, opening usually by 6 valves; styles usually 3. 



2429. Stellaria, p. 436. 



Capsule long, cylindric, often curved, opening at the apex usually by 10 teeth; 



styles usually 5 2430. Cerastium, p. 438. 



Sepals united; calyx tubular. 



Calyx naked at the base; seeds globular or reniform; embryo curved. 



Flowers apetalous 2483. Scleranthus, p. 444. 



Flowers with petals. 



Sepals with long, herbaceous tips, generally 2-3 cm long; styles 5, opposite the 



petals; capsules 5-toothed 2488. Agrostemma, p. 444. 



Sepal lobes less than 2 cm long; styles alternate with the petals. 

 Flowers bisexual or pistillate. 



Styles 3 or 4; calyx 10-nerved; capsule several-celled at the base, 6-toothed. 



2490. Silene, p. 444. 



Styles 5; calyx 10-nerved (with 10 additional fainter nerves in Lychnis alba) ; 



capsule 1-celled at the base, with 5 deeply bifid teeth 



2491. Lychnis, p. 449. 



Styles 2; calyx indistinctly nerved or 5-nerved; capsule 4-toothed 



2503. Saponaria, p. 449. 



Flowers unisexual, staminate, see Lychnis alba 2491. Lychnis, p. 449. 



Calyx subtended by 2-4 bracts; styles 2; seeds dorsally flattened; embryo nearly 

 straight 2502. Dianthus, p. 449. 



2429. STELLARIA L. Chickweeds and Stichworts 



Plants glabrous. 



Median leaves broadest at the base, linear-lanceolate. 



Plants generally 3-5 dm long, decumbent; inflorescence many-flowered, generally 

 more than half the length of the plant, branches spreading; margins of sepals 

 generally pubescent 1. S. graminea. 



