CARYOPHYLLACE.E. 33 



broadly ovate to narrow oblong. Flowers in almost 

 perfect three-chotomous panicle. Sepals 3/16 inch with 

 conspicuous scarious margins. Petals shorter, some- 

 times absent. Stamens often reduced to five or fewer. 

 Capsule projecting far out of the calyx, slightly bent 

 and opening at the top in ten small teeth, very smooth 

 and glistening when ripe. t. 26. Fpon 1451. 



A garden weed, found now all over the world, wherever it is not too 

 hot. Fr. Morgeline, Ger, Hornkraut. 



STELLARIA. f.b.i. i8 xi. 



Stitchwort, Chickweed. 



Flowers similar to CERASTIUM, except that the styles 

 three only or if five then alternate with the sepals, and 

 capsule globose, opening by valves. Herbs with oppo- 

 site exstipulate leaves, and flowers in cymose panicles. 



Species about 100 in temperate regions and tropical mount- 

 ains, many cosmopolitan. Ger. Wasserstern. 



Stcllaria media Linn. ; F.B.I. i 230, XI 5 ; Chick- 

 weed or Starwort. A common weed with weak stem 

 and small white star-shaped flowers. 



Stem weak, much branched, flaccid, green and marked 

 with two opposite lines of fine white hairs. Lower 

 leaves with slender stalks, J^ inch or more, ovate, acute, 

 glabrous, quite entire ; upper leaves sessile. Flowers in 

 the axils of the upper leaves, or in irregularly forked 

 leafy cymes. Sepals % inch. Petals shorter, deeply 

 cleft into two narrow diverging lobes (star-like). Sta- 

 mens ten to five. Styles free, capsule ovoid, projecting 

 beyond the sepals, seeds brown, covered with sharp 

 tubercles. Wight Ic. t. 947. 



In sholas and as a weed. Fyson i860. Bourne 468. 



Gen. Dist. All through the temperate regions of India and Ceylon 

 and over the arctic and north temperate regions. 



