





DECANDRIA. PENTAGYNIA. Cerastium. 



CERA'STIUM. Calyx 5 -leaved : petals cloven : 



caps, l-celled, opening at the top. 



( 1 ) Capsules oblong. 

 C. Upright, woolly and clammy. 



E. bot. 7§0-Curt.-Vatll. 30. 3-Pet! 58. 5. 



Bain on the calyx and on the upper part of the stem ending 

 in oval or globular glands, containing a viscid liquor, which 

 gives a clamminess to the touch. In other respects it approaches 

 very near the C. <viscosum, but is more upright and less spread- 

 ing. Petals white, shorter than the calyx. — Dr. Smith, who 

 has rescued this and the following species from their former con- 

 fusion, observes, that H the light green hue, yellowish in decay, 

 of the C. vulgatum, its broad ovate leaves and smaller flowers, 

 distinguish it from the C. nmcemm.** 



C. nj'iscosum. Bot. Arr. ed. 3. — Clammy Mouse-ear. Mea- 

 dows, pastures, walls, dry banks, and ant-hills. A. April. Oct, - 



425 



vulga'tuBh 





spreading. 



sum. 



Wale. 5~Pet. 58. 6- 



7 



This species is also viscid, c< though less so at an advanced 



The most obvious distinction 



age, and in cold weather. E. bot. 



seems to be the trailing, or upright stems. 



with hairs. 



Whole plant rough 

 Calyx leaves membranaceous at the edge. Petals 



white, in small poor plants in very dry situations as long as the 

 calyx, in larger and more luxuriant specimens shorter ; rarely to 

 be seen in an expanded state. 



C. *vulgatum Bot. Arr. ed, 3 — Narrow-leaved Mouse-ear. 

 Meadows, pastures, walls, sides of roads and amongst rubbish. 



When growing in bogs the leaves are sometimes as convex as an 

 egg cut through lengthwise. Mr. Aikin. P. May — Aug. 



C. Leaves elliptical, naked, or clothed with long hairs, alpi'num. 



Panicle forked, of few flowers, furnished with brae- 

 teae. Capsule oblong, curved. E. bot. 



\ghtf. 



p. 348. 



Whole plant, except 

 long, soft, shining hairs, 

 shaped, opposite. Brand 

 large on separate fruit-i, 

 spear-shaped floral-leaves. 



,(nver 



°p 



WoODWAR 



ripe 



% 



