76 ENGLISH BOTANY. 



margins, faintly nerved. Petals one-fourth or one-half longer than 

 the sepals, irregularly toothed or crenate at the apex (very rarely 

 quite entire), wliite (rarely tinged with rose), oblong. Stamens and 

 styles generally 3 each. Capsule about twice as long as the sepals, 

 usually opening by 6 teeth, slightly reflexed at the apex, the divisions 

 between the teeth being prolonged downwards so as to convert them 

 into valves. Seeds very minute, black. Plant pale green, glaucous, 

 with the leaves rather fleshy ; the upper part of the stem generally 

 with very short glandular hairs. 



The preceding description is taken from the Norwich plant. 

 On the Continent it often attains a larger size, and has much more 

 numerous flowers. 



Z^inbclUferoiis Jagged Cliickweed. 

 French, llolostie en Oinbdle. German, DoldenhliUhige Spurre. 



GENUS FJJ.— CERASTIUM. Lbm. 



Sepals 5 (or more rarely 4), sub-erect. Petals 5 (or 4 when the 

 sepals are only 4), bifid or notched at the apex, rarely entire, occa- 

 sionally abortive. Stamens twice as many as the sepals (or more 

 rarely only as many), hypogynous. Styles 5, more rarely 4. Cap- 

 sule generally much longer than the sepals, cylindrical or conic- 

 cylindrical or conic-ovoid, 1-celled, most frequently slightly curved 

 iij)wards, opening at the apex by twice as many teeth as there 

 are styles; teeth short, straight, or more rarely recurved. Seeds 

 numerous, brown, rough, giobose-reniform, laterally compressed. 



Small annual or perennial herbs, generally pubescent or hairy, 

 rarely smooth and glaucous. Leaves commonly elliptical or oblong, 

 and not rigid. Flowers white (very rarely tinged with blue), in 

 terminal dichotomous cymes, sometimes reduced to a single flower. 



The name of this genus comes from /ctpoc {keras), a horu, to which the capsule 

 bears some resemblance. 



Section I.— MCENCHIA. Eln-h. 



Calyx with longly-acuminatcd sepals. Petals oblong, entire 

 or very slightly notched. Stamens 4, 8, or 10. Styles 4 or 5. 

 Capsule not exserted, or but very slightly exceeding the sepals, 

 opening by 8 or 10 slightly-recurved teeth. Glabrous and glaucous 

 plants. 



