iQoi] Hold — Allies of Stellaria Medium. 41 



for instance North Africa, are less distinct, passing- gradually over 

 into S. 7nedia. Dr. Murbeck feels, therefore, more inclined to 

 consider S. neglecta as a subspecies of S. media, rather than an 

 independent species. While the plants from Washington and 

 Canada show the characteristic habit of Swedish and German 

 specimens, we must state, however, that the seeds of our speci- 

 mens did not show the tubercles quite as prominent as we 

 observed in the European plant, of which the seed (fig-. D) has 

 been illustrated. 



These characters seem sufficient for distinguishing these 

 plants, but it would be interesting to know whether S. apetala 

 occurs in this country, and whether the characters are constant. 

 It may be that S. neglecta is more typically developed in the 

 northern countries than in the south. In regard to the flowering- 

 time, S. media is known to bloom and produce seeds nearly through" 

 out the year thus several generations may appear in the same year 

 under favourable conditions. S. apetala and S. neglecta are, on 

 the other hand, known only to bloom in the spring, and their 

 seeds do not germinate until the following autumn, as has been 

 observed in Europe. Our specimens from Washington of the 

 latter were, however, collected in the last week of September with 

 ripe seeds and a very few flowers, which might indicate a second 

 generation. 



Explanation of Plates. 

 Plate I, fig-. I. — Flowering specimen of Stellaria apetala, Bernard. Natural 

 size. 



Figf. A. — Pistil of same. 



Fig-. B. — Pistil of 5. media. 

 PUte 2, fig. 2. — Inflorescence oi Stellaria neglecta, Whe. Xntural size. 



Fig. C. —Stem-leaves of same, natural size. 



Fig, D. — Seed of same, magnified. 



Fig. E. — Seed of 5. media, magnified. 





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