CARYOPHYLLACEAE. 133 



2. ALSINE L. 



Tufted annuals, diffuse with cymose white flowers. 

 Sepals usually 5. Petals 5, 2-cleft or 2-parted, rarely 

 none. Stamens 10 or less, hypogynous. Ovary 1-celled, 

 several-many-ovuled. Styles commonly 3, rarely 4-5, 

 usually opposite the sepals. Capsule globose to oblong, 

 dehiscent by twdce as many valves as styles. Seeds 

 smooth or roughened. 



1. A. media L. Weak and decumbent or ascending, 10-40 cm. 

 long, glabrous except a line of hairs along the stem and branches; 

 leaves ovate or oval, 1-3 cm. long, the upper sessile, the lower 

 petioled; flowers 4-8 mm. broad, in terminal leafy cymes or axillary; 

 pedicels slender; sepals oblong, mostly acute, longer than the 2- 

 parted petals; capsule ovoid, longer than the calyx; seeds rough. 

 {Stellaria media C^^ill.) 



Common in shady places. February-April. 



2. A. nitens (Nutt.) Greene. Very slender, erect annual; stems 

 filiform, several times forked, pubescent below; leaves mostly basal, 

 the lowest ovate, acute, about 4 mm, long, on slender petioles ot 

 about the same length, the upper sessile, lance-linear, acute, 6-10 

 mm. long; sepals very acute, scarious-m.argined, 1-3-nerved; petals 

 half as long as the sepals or wanting; capsule oblong, about equaling 

 the sepals. ( Stellaria nitens Nutt.) 



Common in the foothills in somewhat shady places. March- 

 May. 



3. CERASTIUM L. Chickweed. 



Annual or perennial, pubescent or hirsute herbs, with 

 terminal dichotomous cymes of white flowers. Sepals 5, 

 rarely 4. Petals of the same number, emarginate or 

 bifid, rarely wanting. Stamens 10, rarely fewer.- Styles 

 equal in number to the sepals and opposite them, or 

 fewer. Capsule cylindric, 1-celled, many-ovuled, often 

 curved, dehiscent by 10, rarely 8 apical teeth. Seeds 

 rough. 



1. C. viscosum L. Annual, tufted; stems ascending or spreading, 

 densely viscid-pubescent, 10-30 cm. long; leaves ovate or obovate, 

 or the lower spatulate, 8-25 mm. long, obtuse; bracts small, herba- 

 ceous; flowers 4-6 mm. broad, in glomerate cymes, becoming panicu- 

 late in fruit; pedicels shorter than or equahng the acute sepals; 

 petals shorter than the sepals, bifid. 



Frequent in waste places. 



2. C. vulgatum L. Biennial or perennial, viscid-pubescent, 

 tufted, erect or ascending, 15-45 cm. long; lower leaves spatulate- 

 oblong, obtuse; upper leaves oblong, 12-25 mm. long, acute or 

 obtuse; bracts scarious-margined; inflorescence cymose, loose, the 



