36 AMONG THE WILD FLOWERS. 
found closed up with its three stigmas protrud- 
ing. When open in the sunshine, its star-like 
flowers are very pretty. The leaves of the 
plant are grass-like, and slightly hairy. An- 
other species, Z. Az/osa, found in thickets and 
copses, is still more hairy. JZ. sylvatica has 
broad shining leaves, with hairy edges. All 
three species are frequent ; our Flora has seven 
species in all. 
Another genus that attracts our attention is 
Stellaria, Stitchwort, of which there are six 
British species. Two of these are early in 
bloom,—Stellaria Holostea and S. media. The 
former is the plant whose flowers, like white 
stars, in early spring so plentifully adorn the 
banks ; it has ten stamens—Linn. Cl. X., Dec- 
andria, and its yellow Anthers are very con- 
spicuous. The name Holostea refers to the 
bone-like brittleness of the stem, whose joints 
come apart very readily. In Cheshire the 
plant is called Break-bones. Its grassy stems 
supporting one another, lift up the flowers to 
view, and make them almost a dazzling orna- 
ment to the banks. The species medza is the 
Common Chickweed, found in bloom in every 
month; its stamens vary much in number, 
