106 CARYOPHYLLACE.E. 



cles. A common weed, with inconspicuous white flowers 

 and straggling stems, which are generally covered with 

 dust. Tho seed-vessels, when ripening, lengthen and 

 become curved. Fl. all the summer. Perennial. 



* To this group belong C. vulgdtum (Broad-leaved 

 Mouse-ear Chickweed), which may be distinguished by 

 its flowers being tufted : C. semidecandrum (Five-sta- 

 mened Mouse-ear Chickweed), distinguished by the 

 character to which it owes its name : C. tetrandrum 

 (Four-stamened Mouse-ear Chickweed), distinguished in 

 like manner : and several others to which botanists have 

 given names, though undecided whether to call them 

 species or varieties. 



* * Petals longer than the calyx. 



2. C. arvense (Field Mouse-ear Chickweed). Leaves 

 narrow, tapering, downy ; petals twice as long as the 

 sepals. Gravelly and chalky fields ; common. Fl. 

 June^ July. Perennial. 



* To this group belong also C. alpinum (Alpine 

 Mouse-ear Chickweed), a short plant with white silky 

 leaves and large white flowers, frequent in the Highlands 

 of Scotland : and C. latifolium (Broad-leaved Mouse-ear 

 Chickweed), also a mountain plant, distinguished from 

 the preceding by its leaves being covered with yellowish 

 down, and by its solitary flowers. It is found on the 

 mountains of Wales and Scotland. 



13. MALACHIUM (Mouse-ear Chickweed). 



1. M. aqudticum (Water Mouse-ear Chickweed). 

 Lower leaves stalked, upper sessile, heart-shaped, taper- 

 ing to a point, all hairy on the margin ; capsule open- 

 ing with 5 2-cleft teeth. A much branched straggling 

 plant, with white flowers in the angles of the stems, 

 and in habit approaching Stellaria nemorum (Wood 

 Stitchwort). Wet places, but not general. FL July, 

 August. Perennial. 



