174 WEEDS OF THE FARM AND GARDEN 



men. " A large order, of about /to genera and 1,500 species, 

 widely distributed, most abundant in the northern hemi- 

 sphere. Many of the plants of this order are cultivated 

 for ornamental purposes. Among these are the hardy 

 pink (Dianthus barbatus), and the carnation (D. Caryo- 

 phyllus). Many plants of this family are weedy, such as 

 the larger mouse chick\veed (Cerastium viscosum), a com- 

 mon eastern perennial with a clammy, hairy stem, and 

 white petals. In the South the nodding mouse-ear chick- 

 weed (C. nutans) is common in fields. This is an annual 

 with clammy, hairy stems diffusely branched ; flowers 

 produced in loose, open clusters; pods nodding on the 

 stalk from which arises the technical name. 



Chickweed (Stellaria me- 

 dia, (L.) Cyrill.). An an- 

 nual or winter annual, grow- 

 ing from two to six inches 



* t f I ll^p^T' high, with spreading stems, 



the whole plant rather pro- 

 cumbent; leaves ovate or 

 oblong, the lower, with 

 hairy petioles ; flowers soli- 

 tary and terminal, but ap- 

 pearing lateral as the stem 

 is prolonged from the upper 

 axil ; sepals four to five, pet- 

 als shorter than sepals, four 

 to five, two-parted, white ; 

 stamens three to ten ; styles 



three to five, opposite the 

 Chickweed (Stellaria sepals The chickweed j s 



especially troublesome on 

 lawns and, because of the great vitality of the plants and 

 seeds, is difficult to eradicate. In Iowa, the blooming 

 period lasts from March to December, seed being ma- 

 tured through all of this time. The stems form a net- 



