CARYOPHYLLACE^. 77 



SPECIES I— CERASTIUM QU ATE RN ELLU M. Fmzl. 



Plate CCXVIT. 



MSnchia erecta, Rdch. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. V. Caryoph. Tab. CCXXXVII. 



Fig. 4953. 

 Cerastium glaucura y, quaternellum, Gr. (fc Godr. FI. rle Fr. Vol. I. p. 266. 

 Moncliia erecta, Sm. et Auct. Plur. 

 M. glauca, Pers. Syn. Vol. I. p. 153. 

 M. qnaternella, Ehrli,. Beitr. Vol. II. p. 178. 

 Sagina erecta, Linn. Sm. Eng. Bot. No. GOD. 



Stems erect or ascending, straight and ratlier rigid, slightly 

 branched at the base. Leaves strap-shaped, or the upi)er ones 

 lanceolate. Elowers on erect naked peduncles, which are much 

 lonsrer than the calvs, and terminate the stem and branches. 

 Sepals 4, elliptical-lanceolate, very acute, with a broad white mem- 

 branous margin. Petals 4, oblong, entire, shorter than the sepals. 

 Stamens 4. Styles 4. Capsule cylindric-conical, a little longer 

 than the sepals, opening by 8 slightly-recurved teeth. Plant 

 glabrous and glaucous. 



On dry gravelly commons and pastures. Not uncommon in the 

 South of England, but becoming more rare towards the North, 

 where Northumberland is its northern limit. 



England, Ireland. Annual. Scoring and Early Summer. 



Stem with the central division erect, the lateral ones ascend- 

 ing and often decumbent at the base, 1 to 5 inches long. Radical 

 leaves in a rosette, strap-shaped, narrowed at the base, acute, 

 soon decaying ; stem-leaves 2 to 4 pairs, shorter than the radical 

 leaves, narrowly - lanceolate. Cyme generally reduced to from 

 1 to 3 flowers with very long peduncles, so that they may be as 

 properly termed solitary flowers. Bracts of the secondary flowers 

 of the cyme lanceolate, cuspidate, about one half membranous, with 

 a strong central and 2 faint lateral nerves. Elowers about 5- inch 

 across, white. Sepals very acute, Avith broad conspicuous white 

 membranous margins. Petals very slightly spreading, considerably 

 shorter than the sepals. Styles very short. Capsule usually about 

 equal to the sepals, but sometimes a little exceeding them ; teeth 

 with revolute margins, and sometimes separating downwards 

 towards the base of the capsule. Seeds reddish-brown, shagreened. 

 Whole plant glabrous, pale glaucous green ; the stems often tinged 

 with dull purple. 



Up)'i[/hi Ilceuchia, or Chickivccd. 



Freucli, JJuaichic Drulle. (Jcrmaii. A I'J raidc Mujichte. 



