White and Greenish 



than the 5 (usually) 2-parted petals ; 2-10 stamens ; 1 or 4 

 styles. Stem: Weak, branched, tutted, leafy, 4 to 6 in long, 

 a hairy fringe on one side. Leaves : Opposite, acutely oval, 

 lower ones petioled, upper ones seated on stem. 



Prcfcrird Habitat — Moist, shady soil ; woods ; meadows. 



Floioering Season — Throughout the year. 



Distribution — Almost universal. 



The sole use man has discovered for this often pestiferous 

 weed with which nature carpets moist soil the world around is 

 to feed caged song-birds. What is the secret of the insignificant 

 little plant's triumphal progress } Like most immigrants that 

 have undergone ages of selective struggle in the Old World, it 

 successfully competes with our native blossoms by readily adjust- 

 ing itself to new conditions, filling places unoccupied, and chiefly 

 by prolonging its season of bloom beyond theirs, to get relief 

 from the pressure of competition for insect trade in the busy sea- 

 son. Except during the most cruel frosts, there is scarcely a day 

 in the year when we may not find the little star-like chickweed 

 flowers. Contrast this season with that of a native chickweed, 

 the Long-leaved Stitchwort {A. lougifolia), blooming only from 

 May till July, when competition is fiercest ! Also, the common 

 chickweed has its parts so arranged that it can fertilize itself when 

 it is too cold for insect pollen-carriers to fly ; then, especially, are 

 many of its stamens abortive, not to waste the precious dust. 

 Yet even in winter it produces abundant seed. In sunny, fine 

 spring weather, however, when so much nectar is secreted the 

 fine little drops may be easily seen by the naked eye, small bees, 

 flies, and even thrips visit the blossoms whose anthers shed pol- 

 len one by one before the three stigmatic surfaces are ready to 

 receive any from younger flowers. 



Sweet-scented White Water Lily; Pond Lily; 

 Water Nymph; Water Cabbage 



(Castalia odorata) Water-lily family 



{Nymph cea odorata of Gray) 



Flowers — Pure white or pink tinged, rarely deep pink, solitary, 3 

 to 8 in. across, deliciously fragrant, floating. Calyx of 4 

 sepals, green outside ; petals of indefinite number, overlap- 

 ping in many rows, and gradually passing into an indefinite 

 number of stamens ; outer row of stamens with petaloid fila- 

 ments and short anthers, the inner yellow stamens with 

 slender filaments and elongated anthers ; carpels of indefinite 

 number, united into a compound pistil, with spreading and 



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