84 EXGLISU BOTANY. 



Var. /3, holostokles. Fries. 



Perennial. Flowers decandrous. Stem pubescent in two 

 opposite strips only, the pubescence changing places with the 

 intervening glabrous strips at each internode. Calyx glabrous. 



Var. y, pentandrum. 



Annual. Small, with the flowers pentandrous, and the capsule 

 shorter than in var. a aud 0. Stem and calyx as in var. a. 



In dry places, etc. Very common throughout Britain. Var. 3 

 I have only seen from near Newcastle. Var. y principally on the 

 seacoast. 



E-ootstock* usually present, slender, branched, producing barren 

 shoots and flowering stems. Stems branclied at the base, where 

 they are decumbent, then erect or ascending, 3 to 15 inches high. 

 Barren shoots 2 to inches long, forming lax tufts, with leaves 

 ■^ to 1 inch long, narrowed at the base, and usually crowded together, 

 especially towards the termination of the shoot. Stem-leaves (except 

 the lowest) not narrowed at the base, shorter than those of the 

 barren shoots, generally rather acute. Cyme lax, at least when in 

 fruit. Sepals quite blunt, with few or none of the hairs terminated 

 by glands, and those towards the apex not passing beyond the end 

 of the sepal. Capsule usually long and curved, forming an ol)tuse 

 angle with the pedicel. Whole plant (in var. a and y) covered with 

 white hairs not terminated l)y glands, colour deep duU-grecn. An 

 alpine variety has the petals twice as long as the calyx; but of this 

 I have seen no British specimens. Var. S is remarkable for being 

 nearly glabrous. Var. y is much like C. i)umilum; but the absence 

 of the gland-tipped hairs, and the blunt sepals, prevent its being 

 confounded with that plant. 



Mr. Bentham considers that C. tetrandrum, C. pumilum, C. semi- 

 decandrum, C. giomcratum, and C. triviale are only varieties of one 

 species, to which he applies the name of C. vulgatum. 



Narroic-leaved Moitse-ear Chickweed. 



French, Ceraiste Trivial. German, Gemehies Hornkraut. 



SPECIES VII.— C ERASTIUM ALPINUM. Lhm. 

 Plate CCXXIII. 

 Ptoot perennial, rootstock producing numerous short procum- 

 bent barren shoots and sub-geniculatc ascending and somewhat 



* The term " rootstock" is applied here to that jiait of the base of the stem which 

 is destitute of L'rceu leaves. 



