48 CARYOPHYLLACE^E. 



M. verticittata Linn. : stem decumbent, dichotomous ; leaves verticillate, 

 obovate-lanceolate, acute ; peduncles 1-flowered, verticillate. 



Fields. Can. to Car. W. to the Columbia river. July Sept. (T).Stem 

 spreading on the ground in all directions, 4 12 inches long. Leaves about 6 in 

 a whorl. Flowers small, white, forming a sessile umbel. Carpet Weed. 



7. STELLARIA. Linn. Stitchwort. 



(From the Latin stella, a star ; because the corolla is spread in a star-shaped 

 manner.) 



Calyx of 5 sepals. Petals 5, (sometimes by abortion none,) 

 2-cleft or 2-lobed. Stamens 10, or by abortion 3 8. Styles 

 3, rarely 4. Capsule 3 4-valved ; valves 2-parted, membra- 

 naceous. Seeds usually many. 



1. S. media Smith: stem procumbent, with an alternate pubescent late- 

 ral line ; leaves ovate or lanceolate, very smooth ; upper ones sessile ; pe- 

 tals oblong, deeply divided, shorter than the sepals ; stamens 3 10. Alsine 

 media Linn. 



Road sides, &c. Can. to Flor. March Nov. (T). Stem much branched 

 and somewhat succulent. Peduncles axillary and terminal, hairy, deflexed in 

 fruit. Petals white. Stamens usually 3 or 5. Introduced. 



Common Chickweed. 



2. & pubera Mich. : pubescent ; stem decumbent ; leaves ovate-oblong, 

 sessile, acute, ciliate ; pedicels filiform dichotomous, recurved or deflexed ; 

 petals longer than the calyx. 



Rocky banks. Penn. to Geor. ; rare. April, May. l^.Stem. & 12 inches 

 liigh, diffuse and dichotomous. Flowers large, axillary and terminal, on filiform 

 pedicels. Petals white, deeply bifid. Oval-leaved Stitchwort. 



3. S. longifolia MM. : smooth ; stem erect, square, weak ; leaves linear- 

 acute, spreading, with the margins often scabrous ; panicle terminal, divari- 

 cate, very long, bracteate ; petals broad-obovate, 2-parted, about as long as 

 the 3-nerved calyx. Spergulastrum gramineum Mich. Mwropetalon 

 gramineum Pers. 



Moist woods. N. S. and N. to lat. 64. W. to Oregon. June. %. Stem 

 12 15 inches high. Petals white, becoming longer than the calyx. Stamens 

 B 10. Long-leaved' Stitchwort. 



4. S. borealis Big. : stem spreading, angular, dichotomous ; leaves oval- 

 lanceolate, acute, veinless ; peduncles axillary, elongated, 1-flowered ; petals 

 deeply cleft, about equal to the calyx ; capsule ovate, oblong, nearly twice 

 as long as the calyx. Micropetalon lanceolatwm Pers. 



Shady swamps. N. Y. to Arct. Amer. July, Aug. (T). Stem 4 15 inches 

 high, weak. Leaves slightly connate. Petals white, deeply cleft. 



Northern Stitchwort. 



5. S. aquatica D. C. : weak and decumbent, nearly smooth ; leaves ob- 

 long, acute, veined; petals 2-cleft, rather shorter than the lanceolate very 

 acute sepals ; capsule ovoid, about as long as the calyx. ( Torr. fy Gr.) S. 

 borealis Darlingt. 



Sandy spring*. Penn. W. to the Rocky Mountains. May. '1\.. Stem 6 12 



iiifhes long, very slender. Flowers white, smaller than in the preceding. 



Water Stitchwort 



