Cerattium.] XII. CARYOPHYLLACEjE. 71 



to 5 or fewer. Capsule, when dry, cylindrical, often curved, and pro- 

 jecting beyond the calyx. 



In cultivated and waste places, pastures, and woods, wet or dry, over 

 nearly the whole of the civilised world. Most abundant in Britain. Fl. 

 the whole season. Its protean forms have much puzzled the botanists of 

 many countries to distinguish them into from 2 or 3 to 20 or 30 supposed 

 species. The most conspicuous observable in Britain are 



a. C. glomeratum, Thuill. Tall and luxuriant, the leaves broad, almost 

 orbicular, the flowers (sometimes apetalous) in a compact head, the 

 pedicels shorter than the calyx, the stamens usually 10. In rich soils, 

 in moist, shady situations, but often later in the season assuming the 

 inflorescence of the narrower-leaved varieties. 



b. C. viscosum, Linn. Much branched at the base, but usually rather 

 tall. Leaves oblong or narrow. Stamens usually 10. The commonest 

 form in rather moist and rich meadows and pastures. Pedicels often 

 elongated in this and the two following varieties. C. triviale, Link. 



c. C. semidecandrum, Linn. (C. pumilum, Curtis). Stems short and 

 often slender, more branched and more erect as the situation is drier. 

 Leaves rather small, thicker near the sea, more viscid in hot situations. 

 Stamens usually about 5, but often more. Capsules usually long. Very 

 common in dry, poor, open situations. 



d. C. tetrandrum, Curtis. Like the last, but more branched, and the 

 parts of the flower usually reduced to fours. Pedicels often long. Less 

 common than the last two, and generally near the sea. 



[The above classification of the puzzling British forms of the common 

 Mouse-ear Chickweed does not quite accord with that of any other 

 author ; it was, however, founded on a very long and careful observation 

 of living plants over a great area of the British Isles.] 



2. C. arvense, Linn. (fig. 161). Field C. Stem perennial, and much 

 branched at the base, often very intricate and prostrate ; the flowering 

 branches ascending to about 6 inches, or more when very luxuriant. 

 Leaves crowded in the lower part, narrow, lanceolate-linear, more 

 glabrous and less viscid than in C. vulgatum. Flowers large and white, 

 in loose cymes, on rather long pedicels. Sepals near 3 lines long. 

 Petals twice that length, cleft to near the middle. Capsule oblique, 

 usually longer than the calyx. 



In dry, hilly fields, pastures, and banks, throughout Europe and Russian 

 Asia, except the extreme north, in North America, and down the Andes 

 of South America. In numerous localities in Britain, but not at all 

 common. Fl. spring and early summer. 



3. C. alpinum, Linn. (fig. 162). Alpine C. Stems shortly perennial, 

 much branched, prostrate and rooting at the base ; the flowering 

 branches ascending to a few inches, with 1 or 2 large flowers on 

 long peduncles ; the whole plant nearly glabrous, or more frequently 

 covered with long woolly hairs, and occasionally viscid. Leaves ovate, 

 elliptical, or oblong, always broader for their length than in C. arvenie. 

 Petals rather longer than in that species ; styles 5. Capsule not much 

 longer than the calyx, straight or nearly so. 



In alpine, moist pastures, and wet, rocky situations, in all the great 

 mountain ranges of Europe and Russian Asia, and all round the Arctio 

 Circle. Pretty abundant in the Highlands of Scotland, less so in northern 

 England, and rare in Wales ; not recorded from Ireland. Fl. 



