CLASS X. ORDER IV.] CERASTIUM. 653 



** Petals twice as long as the calyx. 



4. C. arven'se, Linn. (Fig. 742.) Field Chickweed. Stem prostrate 

 at the base and rooting; leaves linear lanceolate, or linear, crowded 

 below, more or less pubescent; bracteas with a membranous margin ; 

 peduncles glandular, pubescent ; petals twice as long as the calyx. 



English Botany, t. 93.— English Flora, vol. ii. p. 333.— Hooker, 

 British Flora, vol. i. p. 216. — Lindley, Synopsis, p. 51. 



/3. ohlongifolium. Leaves oblong, acute, smooth, the margins 

 ciliated. 



Roots fibrous, branched. Stems branched, procumbent at the base 

 and rooting from the axis of the leaves, round, becoming erect, from 

 three to twelve inches high, slender, and more or less clothed with 

 short hairs, pointed downwards, and in the upper part of the stem fre- 

 quently glandular. Leaves opposite, sessile, linear, with an obtuse 

 point, from half an inch to an inch long, single ribbed, downy and 

 ciliated on the margins, often a fascicle of leaves from the axis, 

 crowded below the barren branches cespitose ; in /5. ohlongifolium the 

 leaves are much shorter, oblong, with an acute point, smooth, with the 

 margins more or less ciliated. Inflorescence a terminal panicle of a 

 few large white flowers, the bracteas ovate, with a broad membranous 

 margin. Peduncles erect, clothed with simple or glandular down. 

 Cali/x of five ovate lanceolate segments, downy, with a membranous 

 margin, broader on the inner than the outer segmenis, and half as long 

 as the inversely heart-shaped petals. Stamens with awl-shaped Jila^ 

 ments^ about as long as the calyx. Styles slender, with downy stigmas. 

 Capsule cylindrical, oblong, shorter than the calyx. 



Habitat.— Dvy and sandy fields and banks; not unfrequent in 

 England, less common in Scotland and Ireland. 



Perennial ; flowering in June and July. 



This, though a small plant, is frequently highly ornamental on 

 banks favourable in soil and situation. It spreads in thick patches, 

 and produces so great a number of pure white flowers as to give the 

 banks almost the appearance of being clothed with a waving mantle 

 of snow. It produces an abundance of seeds, which are the favourite 

 food of numerous small birds. 



5. C. alpi'numf Linn. (Fig. 743.) Hairy Alpine Chickweed. Stem 

 creeping, sterile branches rosulate ; flowering stems ascending ; flowers 

 solitary, or several in a forked panicle ; leaves elliptic-ovate, nearly 

 smooth, or densely woolly; bracteas herbaceous, with a narrow mem- 

 branous margin ; pedicles in fruit, reflexed. 



English Botany, t. 472 —English Flora, vol. ii. p. 334.— Hooker, 

 British Flora, vol. i. p. 217.- Lindley, Synopsis, p. 51. 



Root fibrous, with branched creeping underground stems, flowering 

 stems ascending, mostly numerous, from two to fo'ur inches high, 

 round, simple or branched, terminating in a solitary flower, or a forked 

 panicle of several flowers, mostly with a solitary one from the axis, 



4 Q 



