CARYOPHYLLE^. 89 



Cerastium. L. 10. 5. 



Named from the Greek for horn^ on account of the horn-like 

 form of the capsule of many of the species. Few, if any, are 

 indigenous to this country. 



C. vulgatum. L. Mouse-ear Chickweed. A pale-green 

 plant, partly procumbent, viscid-pubescent ; leaves ovate, obtuse, 

 pubescent or hirsute ; flowers dichotomous, partially umbelled ; 

 petals white, emarginate ; from May to August, in gardens and 

 fields ; introduced from Britain. 



C. viscosiim. L. A more viscid, but similar plant. 



C semidecandrum. L. May be only a variety of the last ; 

 on dry hills ; both from Britain. 



C. arvense. L. Field Chickweed. Rather smaller than the 

 preceding species, ascending, slender, with crowded leaves at the 

 base ; flowers large, white, 2 or 3 on terminal pedicels ; blossoms 

 in May and June, in fields and on rocky hills ; a native also of 

 Britain. 



C. tenuifolium. Ph. A variety of the last, in all probability, 

 and grows in similar places. 



C connatum, Beck ; which is C hirsutum Muhl. Credited 

 with some doubt to this State ; very hairy, diffuse ; leaves ob- 

 ovate ; flowers in dense clusters, and white, with a procumbent 

 stem ; May. Probably a variety of C. vulgatum. 



C. ohlongifolium. Torrey. A larger plant, cespitose, pro- 

 cumbent, pubescent, erect, terete, with oblong-lanceolate leaves ; 

 petals obovate, bifid ; flowers terminal, few, on a dichotomous 

 panicle ; mountains of Massachusetts ; blossoms in June. 



The last appears to be indigenous ; all of little consequence, 

 except as yielding seed for the food of small birds. 



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