Stellaria. CARYOPHYLLACE^. 97 



5. STELLARIA. Linn.; Endl. gen. 52'iO. STITCH-WOHT. 



[Named from stdla, a star ; in allusion to the form of the flower.] 



Calyx of 5 sepals, which are somewhat united at the base. Petals 5 (sometimes, by abortion, 

 fewer or none), 2-cleft or 2-lobed, often more or less perigynous. Stamens 10 (or, by 

 abortion, 3 - 8). Styles 3, rarely 4. Capsule 3- (sometimes 4-) valved ; valves 2-parted, 

 membranaceous. Seeds usually many, sometimes few, not strophiolate. — Herbaceous 

 plants, mostly growing in moist situations. Flowers terminal, in dichotomous cymes, or 

 solitary. The flowers arc often apparently lateral, from the evolution of a branch in the 

 axil of the upper leaves, which forms a continuation of the stem. — Funiculi slender, 2-3 

 times the length of the seed. 



1. Stellaria media, Smith. Common Chickweed. 



Stems procumbent, with an alternate pubescent line ; leaves ovate, abruptly petiolate ; 

 petals oblong, deeply divided, shorter than the sepals ; stamens 3-10. — Eng. hot. t. 537 ; 

 Pitrsh, fl. 1. p. 317 ; Torr. jl. \.p. 452 ; Bigel. fl. Bost. p. 181 ; DC. prodr. 1. p. 398 ; 

 Hook.fl. Bor.-Am. 1. p. 94; Darlingt. fl. Cest. p. 274 ; Torr. ^ Gr. fl. N. Am. l.p. 183. 

 Alsine media, Linn. Holosteum succulentum, Linn. 



Annual, but often living through the winter till the next season. Stem much branched, 

 tender and somewhat succulent. Leaves about half an inch long, on ciliatc petioles the 

 length of the lamina. Flowers on hairy pedicels, which are deflexed in fruit. Calyx hairy. 

 Stamens mostly 3 or 5. Styles 3. Capsule ovoid. Seeds rather large, reniform-orbicular, 

 muricate. 



Fields and cultivated grounds ; very common. Flowers from February to December. In- 

 troduced from Europe, and now diffused throughout the United Slates. 



2. Stellaria longifolia, Miihl. Long-leaved Stitch-wort. 



Stem branching, weak, smooth ; leaves linear, mostly attenuate at the base, acutish ; cyme 

 divaricate, naked, with lanceolate scarious bracts ; petals cleft nearly to the base, at first 

 shorter, at length longer, than the acute 3-nerved sepals ; styles 3-4. — Torr. fl. \. p. 452 

 (excl. syn. Gold.) ; Bigel. fl. Bost. ed. 2. p. 182 ; DC. prodr. 1. p. 400 ; Hook.fl. Bor.-Am. 1. 

 p. 94 ; Darlingt. fl. Cest. p. 275 ; Torr. ^ Gr. fl. N. Am. 1. ^. 185. S. graminea, Bigel. 

 fl. Bost. ed. 1. p. 110. Spergulastrum gramineum, Michx. fl. 1. p. 276; DC. prodr. 1. 

 p. 421. Micropetalon gramineum, Pers. syn. l.p. 509. 



Perennial. Stem about a foot high, slender, usually erect, but sometimes prostrate, 4-angled ; 

 the angles often a little retrorsely scabrous. Leaves 1-2 inches long and 1-2 lines wide, 

 [Floka.j 13 



