176 FLOWERS Ol- WASTE PLACES, ETC. 



This plant is called Chickenweed, Mouse-ear Chickweed, Mouse-ear. 

 Chickweed ami this plant were forniL-rly used under the sanii; name, 

 iMurion. 



This species may be distinguished from C. glonicratniii and C. scini- 

 dccandriDti by being perennial, while the others are annual, with hairs 

 on the stem-leaves, much longer, not terminated bv muscular cjlands. 

 It is much laroer anil more spreading at right angles. 



Essential Specific Ch.\r.\ctkrs: — 



52. Cerastiuni vtd^atuni, L. — Stem branched, jointed, tufted, leaves 

 lanceolate, downy, dark-green, llowers white, |)etals not much longer 

 than sepals, pedicels exceeding the latter, bracts with membranous 

 margin, the tips glabrous. 



Common or Marsh Mallow (Malva sylvestris, L.) 



This has not been found fossil so far. It is found throughout the 

 North Temperate Zone in Europe, N. Africa, Siberia, W. Asia, and 

 is introduced into the United States. In Great Britain, though 

 universal, it is not found in Cardigan, Stirling, Mid Perth, N. Aberdeen, 

 Banff, Westerness, Main Argyle, Cantire, North Ebudes, Sutherland, 

 Caithness, or the Northern Isles. Watson expresses doubt as to its 

 being native in Scotland, where, indeed, it is rare. It is found in 

 Ireland and the Channel Islands. 



The Common Mallow forms a conspicuous object by the roadside, in 

 or near villages and small towns, where it may be seen growing luxuri- 

 antlv, and in profusion along the sward which surrounds a farmyard, 

 or on banks in the village, or on the village green. It is thus a weed 

 of cultivation which has established itself in most parts of the country. 

 In waste places it is associated with Dwarf Mallow, Melilot, INIayweed, 

 Mugwort, Hawlc's Beard, Goose Foot, Barley Grass, and many others. 



The stem is tall, erect, strong, and woody, branched, with leaves 

 on long leaf-stalks, 3-7-lobed, kidney-shaped at the base, with lobes 

 radiating from a common centre, the lobes shallow, the margin scal- 

 lo[)ed, smooth above, roughly hairy below. 



The flowers are large, purple, axillar\-, with veins of deeper tint, 

 the petals much longer than the calyx. The tlower-stalks are slender, 

 spreading, the fruit (enclosed in an aril) smooth, netted, with short style, 

 ,'uid the seeds are numerous and kidney-shaped. 



This plant is very often 4 ft. high. The llowers may be gathered 

 from May till October. Common Mallow is a perennial, deciduou.s, 

 herbaceous i)lant. 



