STELLA RI A. 



79 



and Gcach terminates in Ji flower, leaving tlie first flower in 

 the fork ; 3d, the same process is repeated in each of these 

 branches, the 2 secondary flowers being left below, each in 

 a fork like the first, and so on to the last. Thus the central 

 flower is the oldest, and 'the inflorescence is centrifugal. 



The F^loii'er may always be seen when the sun is shin- 

 ing, looking like a little star among the green leaves. It is 

 regular, perfect, 5-parted, pedunculate. The green, hairy 



Fig. X\ai. — Stellaria 

 media : 1, a flower ; 2, 

 calyx with fruit ; 3, sec- 

 tion of a flower ; 6, sta- 

 mens and pistil ; 5, 

 heaped on the placenta 

 4, section of a seed. 



calyx is larger than the white corolla. The sepals are lance- 

 olate and quite distinct from one another. The petals are 

 each deeply 2-cleft {hifid), so as to appear as if there were 

 10. The ovary is ovoid, surmounted by 3 sessile stigmas, 

 and surrounded l)y the stamens, which are normally 10, each 

 standing on a honey gland. But these little flowers a.-*sume 

 large liberty ; often, nay generally, their stamens are reduced 



