50 CARYOPHYLLACE^E. 



5. A. serpyUifolia Linn : stem dichotomous, diffuse ; leaves ovate, acute, 

 sessile, somewhat rugose, smooth, ciliate ; sepals lanceolate, acute, 3-nerved, 

 larger than the corolla ; capsule ovate, 6-valved, equalling the calyx ; seeds 

 exactly reniform, rugose. 



Sandy fields. Mass, to Geor. May July. (f). Stem mostly decumbent, 

 3 8 inches long. Flowers axillary and terminal, solitary. Introduced from 

 Europe. Thyme-leaved Sandwort. 



9. MCEHRINGIA. Linn. Moehringia. 



(In honor of Moehrmg, a German physician and botanist of the last century.) 

 Sepals 4 5. Petals 4 5, somewhat perigynous. Stamens 

 8 10. Styles usually 3, sometimes 2 or 4. Capsule splitting 

 into twice as many (half) valves as there are stigmas. Seeds 

 few, smooth. 



. M. laierijlora Fenzl. : minutely pubescent ; stem erect ; leaves oblong or 

 oval, obtuse ; peduncles lateral and terminal, 2 (rarely 34) flowered, one 

 of the pedicels with 2 bracteoles near the middle; petals twice the length of 

 the sepals. ( Torr. N. Y. Fl.} Arcnaria lateriflora Linn. 



Woods. Mass. N. Y. N. to Hudson's Bay ; not very common. June. % 

 Stem 5 10 inches high, simple or sparingly branched above. Peduncles axil- 

 lary, solitary, filiform. Flowers white. Lateral-flowered Moehringia. 



10. HONCKENYA. Ehrh. Sea Chickweed. 

 (In honor of J. G. Honckeny, a German botanist.) 

 Sepals 5, slightly united at base. Petals 6, perigynous, with 

 short claws, entire. Stamens 10, inserted with the petals into 

 a glanduliferous disk. Styles 3 5. Capsules 3 5-valved ; 

 valves entire, 8 10-seeded. Seeds large, smooth. 



H. peploides Ehrh. : sepals broadly ovate, mostly obtuse, with scarious 

 margins ; petals spatulate-obovate ; leaves and stem very fleshy. ( Torr. fy 

 Gr.} Arenaria peploides Linn. 



Sea coast. Long Island, N. Y. Mass, N. J. N. to Arctic America and 

 Labrador. May, June. r i\.. Stems 6 10 inches high, thrown up from a 

 creeping rhizoma. Leaves ovate or oval, closely sessile or clasping, very acute, 

 or mucronate. Flowers in short pedicels, white. Common Sea Chickweed. 



11. CERASTIUM. Linn. Mouse-ear Chickweed. 

 (From the Greek Kepas, a horn ; in allusion to the form of 'the' capsule.) 



Calyx 5-sepalled. Petals 5, bifid or emarginate. Styles 5, 

 (rarely 4.) Capsule membranaceous, cylindrical or oblong, 

 opening at the summit by 10 teeth. 



1. C. vulgatum Linn.: viscidly pubescent, pale green ; stems numerous, 

 cespitose, suberect; leaves ovate or obovate, obtuse, hirsute ; flowers dicho- 

 tomous, subumbelled, longer than the peduncles ; petals oblong, emarginate, 

 scarcely larger than the calyx ; capsule oblong, tapering, as long again as 



