CATCHFLY FAMILY. 93 



The SANDWORTS (Arenaria) are small plants also, 

 with white or lilac flowers. One with white flowers, 

 called the 3-nerved Sandwort (A. trinervis) is frequent 

 in moist, shady hedges : 6 or 8 inches high, with egg- 

 shaped, and pointed leaves, and three conspicuous 

 veins in each. Another Sandwort with Thyme-shaded 

 leaves, is common on walls. You will be puzzled to 

 distinguish them from the Pearlworts. The Sandworts 

 have 3 4 Styles ; and 3 5 Valves in the Capsules. 

 The Pearlworts have 4 5 Styles ; and 4 5 Valves 

 in the Capsules. The Petals of the Sandworts are 

 more conspicuous, and more deeply divided down the 

 middle, than the Pearlworts. 



We will now examine one of the Stitchworts, whose 

 pure, white, star-like blossoms are well known to us, 

 as a favorite hedge-flower. 



[STITCH-WORT. Stellaria. 



Sepals 5. Petals 5, deeply cloven. Stamens 10. Styles 3. 

 Capsules opening with 6 valves. Many seeded. Named from 

 Stella, a Star, because the Corolla spreads in a star-shaped 

 manner. 



GREATER STITCKWORT. (Stellaria holostea.) 



Stem nearly erect, with 4 rough, sharp angles, leaves lance- 

 olate, very pointed, sessile. Petals cloven to the middle, twice 

 as long as the nerveless Calyx. 



