W CARYOPHYLLACEiE. Stellaria. 



spreading widely, slightly rough on the margin. Stamens 8 - 10. Styles often 4, and 

 occasionally 5. Capsule globose-ovoid, about the length of the calyx. Seeds muricate. 



Wet shady places, rather common. Latter pajt of May, and early in June. Nearly allied 

 to S. graminea of Europe. 



3. Ste^lakia borealis, BigeL Northern Stitch-wort. 



Smooth and flaccid; leaves broadly lanceolate, acute, veinless; petals (often wanting) 

 8-parted, nearly the length of the lanceolate-acute nerveless sepals ; capsules ovoid-oblong, 

 nearly twice the length of the calyx ; styles usually 4. — Bigel. fl. Bost. p. 182 \. Hook. ft. 

 Bor.-Am. 1. p. 94 ; Torr.^- Gr.fl. N. Am. 1. p. 185. S. lanceolala, Tbrr.fl. 1. p. 45, not 

 oi Pair. Spergulastrum lanceolatum, Michx. fl. 1. p. 275. Micropetalon lanceolatum, Pers- 

 syn. I. p. 509. 



Perennial. Stem 4 - 10 inches long, angular, somewhat diffuse^ Leaves about an inch 

 long, with a single strong nerve. Flowers at first terminal and usualy apetalous, on a slender 

 pedicel, becoming lateral by the evolution of a branch from the axil of each of the upper 

 leaves ; the lateral branches at length floriferous, bearing petaliferous flowers. Stamens and 

 petals distinctly perigynous. Seeds rather large, nearly smooth. 



Wet shady swamps, nortliern and western parts of the State. June - August. 



6. CERASTIUM. Linn.; Endl. gen. 524:1. mouse-ear CHICKWEED. 



[From the Greek, keroi, a horn ; in allusion to the form of the capsule.^ 



Calyx of 5 ( rarely 4) sepals, which are somewhat united at the base. Petals 5 (sometimes 

 4), bifid or emarginate. Styles 5 (rarely 4). Capsule membranaceous, cylindrical or 

 oblong, opening at the summit by 10 teeth. Seeds numerous, not strophiolate. — Funiculi 

 very short, the seeds separating from- them, but remaining suspended from the placenta by 

 a spiral vessel. 



1. Cerastium vulgatum, Linn. Common Mouse-ear Chickweed. 



Hairy, pale green ; stems ascending or spreading ; leaves ovate or obovate, very obtuse, 

 attenuate at the base ; flowers somewhat capitate, when young longer than the pedicels ; 

 capsule cylindrical, twice the length of the calyx. — Eng. hot. t. 789; Torr. fl. \. p. 458 ; 

 DC. prodr. I. p. 415; Darlingt.fl. Cest. p. 277 ; Torr. ^ Gr.fl. N. Am. 1. p. 187. C. semi- 

 decandrum, Walt.fl. Car. p. 241 ; Pursh, fl. 1. p. 320. C. hirsutum, Muhl. cat.p. 46 ; Ell. 

 sk. 1. p. 524 ; Torr. fl. I. c. C. connatum, Beck, hot. p. 55. 



Plant annual, somewhat viscid when young. Stem 4 — 10 inches long. Leaves 6-8 

 lines long, the lower ones obovate. Flowers rather crowded. Petals bifid at the summit. 

 Capsule a little curved ; the teeth (as in all the following species) erect and revolute on the 

 margin. Seeds muricate. 



Cultivated grounds, road-sides, etc. Introduced from Europe. May - September. 



