DECANDRIA PENTAGTNIA. 291 



517. CERASTIUM. L. (Moiiseear-Chickweed.) 

 Calix 5-leaved. Fetals 5, bifid or eniargin- 

 ate. Capsule i-celled, bur.^ting at the summit, 

 10-tootlied. 



Flowers terminal; stamina sometimes 5, and 3 styles; 

 capsule subc} lindric, or roundish. Stems with an elastic 

 centre. 



Species. 1. C. vulgaUim. 2- viscosuyn. 3. semidecan- 

 drum. 4. * glutimeum. Sofily pubescent and viscid, 

 erect; leaves elongated, distant, linear-oblong-, acute; pe- 

 tals oblon.^, bifid at the point, longer than the calix; pe- 

 duncles at length much longer than the flowers, at first 

 siioner. Hab. Oa the banks of the Schuylkill near Phi- 

 iadelphia. A very distinct and truly indigenous species. 

 Obs. Annual. Stems nearly simple and erect, several 

 from the same root, often a foot high, remarkably viscid 

 above. Radical leaves spalhulate, all rather aciite, cau- 

 line subampiexicaule, linear-oblong, sublanceolate, plaited 

 at tlie point, often 2 inches long, and only .3 lines broad. 

 Flowers terminal, subpaniculate; y^etals hnear-obiong. 

 Stamina 10, 5 alternaiely longer, bt} Ics 5, short. Cap- 

 side double^the length of the calix, iOtoothed, oblong- 

 cylindric, teeth acuminate. 



5. w^-eJtae. 6. teniiifolium. 7 • elongaium. Ph. 



An European genus. 



318 AGROSTEMMA. X. (Corn Cockle.) 



Calix l-leaved, tubulous, coriaceous, summit 

 ^-oX^^i, Petals 5, unguiculate; limb obtuse, and 

 undivided. Capsule 1 -celled, with a 5-toothed 

 opening. 



Flowers term.inal. Petals in ^i. GIthago entire and na- 

 ked; the rest have emarglnatc petals and an appendicu- 

 late orifice. 



Specif.s. 1. A. Githago. Naturalized in corn-lielda 

 as in Europe. 



319. LYCQNJS. L, 



Calix tubulous, 5-toothed. Petals 5, un.j^ui- 



culate; liuib subbifid. Capsule 1 to 5-celied, 



with a 5-toothed opening. 



A genus of various habit and scarcely natural; flowets 

 fastigiate, dichotomousiy paniculate, or soUtary. 



