174 



WEEDS OF THE FARM AND GARDEN 



men. A large order, of about 70 genera and 1,500 species, 

 widely distributed, most abundant in the northern hemi- 

 sphere. Many of the plants of this order are cultivated 

 for ornamental purposes. Among these are the hardy 

 pink (Dianthus barbatus), and the carnation (D. Caryo- 

 phyllus). Many plants of this family are weedy, such as 

 the larger mouse chickweed (Cerastium viscosum), a com- 

 mon eastern perennial with a clammy, hairy stem, and 

 white petals. In the South the nodding mouse-ear chick- 

 weed (C. nutans) is common in fields. This is an annual 

 with clammy, hairy stems diffusely branched ; flowers 

 produced in loose, open clusters ; pods nodding on the 

 stalk from which arises the technical name. 



Chickweed (Stcllaria me- 

 dia, (L.) Cyrill.). An an- 

 nual or winter annual, grow- 

 ing from two to six inches 

 high, with spreading stems, 

 the whole plant rather pro- 

 cumbent; leaves ovate or 

 oblong, the lower, with 

 hairy petioles ; flowers soli- 

 tary and terminal, but ap- 

 pearing lateral as the stem 

 is prolonged from the upper 

 axil ; sepals four to five, pet- 

 als shorter than sepals, four 

 to five, two-parted, white ; 

 stamens three to ten ; styles 

 three to five, opposite the 

 S,io. Chickweed (Stellaria sepals. The chickweed is 



especially troublesome on 



lawns and, because of the great vitality of the plants and 

 seeds, is difficult to eradicate. In Iowa, the blooming 

 period lasts from March to December, seed being ma- 

 tured through all of this time. The stems form a net- 



