Stellahia. CARYOPHYLLACE.E. 183 



6. STELLARIA. Linii.; Torr.Jl. 1. p. 453. 



Sepals 5, somewhat united at the base. Petals 5 (rarely by abortion fewer 

 or none), 2-cleft or lobed, often perigynous. Stamens 10 (or by abortion 

 3-8). Styles 3, sometimes 4. Capsule 1-celled, 3- (sometimes 4-) valved ; 

 valves usually 2-parted, membranaceous. Seeds numerous. — Herbs, mostly 

 inhabiting moist or shady places. Flowers terminal in dichotomous cymes, 

 or solitary. 



The apparently lateral peduncles of several species are at first terminal, but be- 

 come pstudo-axillary by the evolution of a branch in the axils of the upper leaves, 

 which continues the stem. So also in Arenaria lateriflora, &c. 



§ 1. Styles always 3; petals hypogynous^ mostly longer than the calyx. 



1. S. media (Smith): stems procumbent, with an alternate pubescent 

 line; leaves ovate, glabrous ; petals oblong, deeply divided, shorter than the 

 sepals; stamens 2-\0.—Eng. hot. t. 537 ; DC. prodr. 1. p. 398 ; Hook. fl. 

 Bor.- Am. 1. p. 94:. Alsine media, Linn. Holosteum succulentum, Linn.; 

 Colden. 



Waste places throughout the United States 1 California and N. W. Ame- 

 rica. Introduced. March-Dec. — (T) Petioles short, ciliate. Calyx hairy. 

 Pedicels deflexed in fruit. — Chickweed. 



■ / S. prostrata (Baldw.) : stem procumbent, fistulous, somewhat pubescent ; 

 leaves ovate, acuminate ; the lower ones on slender petioles, subcordate ; pe- 

 dicles elongated; petals twice the length of the sepals, deeply divided, Avith 

 linear segments; stamens 7-8. — Baldxo. .' in Ell. sk. 1. p. 518. 



In wet places E. Florida, Baldwin .' Georgia, Le Conte ! March-May. 

 — (l) Stem 1-4 feet long. Petioles ciliate, longer than the leaves. Sepals 

 ovate, nearly glabrous. Flowers small. 



3. S. puhera (Michx.) : stems decumbent, spreading, with two opposite 

 pubescent lines; leaves oval-oblong, sessile, minutely ciliate; pedicels short; 

 petals deeply bifid, longer than the sepals. — Michx. ! fl. 1. p. 273 ; Ell. sk. 

 1. j3. 517 ; Darlingt. Jl. Cest. p. 274. 



On shady rocks, Pennsylvania ! [lat. 40°] to Georgia ! west to Kentucky ! 

 April-June. — 1(. Stems 6-12 inches long, below often with a single alter- 

 nate hairy line. Leaves 1-2^ inches long. Flowers i an inch in diameter. 

 Stamens 10. Capsule ovoid-globose. 



4. S. Jamesii (Ton.): viscidly pubescent; leaves lanceolate, elongated, 

 slightly falcate, closely sessile ; cyme divaricate ; petals 2-lobed, about twice 

 the length of the oblong acute sepals. — Torr. in ami. lye. New- York, 2. p. 

 169. 



Rocky Mountains, about lat. 40^, Dr. James ! — Stem weak. Leaves 

 about 4 inches long and 4 lines broad, acute. Capsule as long as the calyx, 

 deeply valved. Seeds few, rugose. 



.--'5. S. Nuttallii: unnutely glandular, branched from the base, erect or as- 

 cending; leaves linear, obtuse, rather fleshy ; cyme few-flowered ; p etals ob- 

 cordate, twice the length of the ovate obtuse nearly nerveless sepai.s 



Prairies of Arkansas, Nutiall ! Dr. Pitcher ! Western Louisiana, Z^. 

 Leavenicorth! Texas, Drummond! Dr. Leavenworth ! March-April. — 

 (X) Plant 4-6 inches high. Leaves nearly glabrous, inuch shorter than the 

 internodes, i-i an inch in length, 1-2 lines wide, a little narrowed at the 

 base. Flowers when expanded more than i an inch in diameter : petals 

 with a broad, rather deep emargination : sepals withscarious margins. Cap- 

 sule a little longer than the calyx, deeply 3-valved : valves entire. Seeds 



