CLASS X. ORDER HI. 193 



201. STELLARIA. 

 Stellaria media. Sm. Chickuiecd. 



Leaves ovate, stems procumbent, with an alternate, 

 lateral, hairy line. Sm. 

 Syn. Alsine media. L. 



Chickweed grows in almost every situation, even between the 

 bricks in the side walks. Its spreading stems are remarkable 

 jfbr a hairy line extending from joint to joint, and occupying the 

 two sides alternately- On breaking the stem an elastic, fibrous 

 substance is drawn out, which retracts when liberatid. Leaves 

 opposite, ovate, petioled, entire. Peduncles axillary and termi- 

 nal, one flowered. Petals while, deeply cleft, so as to appear 

 ten in number. Stamens three, five, or ten. Capsules opening 

 into six segments. — Flowers from the beginning of spring to the 

 end of fall. — Annual. 



Stellaria longifolia. Muhl. Stichtcort. 



Leaves hnear, entire; panicle terminal, spreading, 

 capillary; calyx three nerved, about equal to the pe- 

 tals. Sm. 

 Syn. Stellaria graminea. 1st. edit. 



A small, starry, while flower. Stems decumbent, square, 

 compressed, smooth, very slender. Leaves linear-lanceolate or 

 nearly linear, tapering to a point, opposite, smooth. Segments 

 of the calyx three ribbed, lanceolate acute, as long as the petals. 

 Petals appearing in ten white, fine segments, like those of Stel- 

 laria media. Grows among the bushes on Cragie's road. — June, 

 July. — Closely allied to S. graminea of Europe, and perhaps 

 only a narrow leaved variety. 



* Stellaria borealis. Northern Stellaria. 



S. foliis oval-lanceolatis ; fedunculis axillarihus^ 

 elongat'is^ nnijloris ; petalis calyci siibcEqualibus. 



Leaves oval-lanceolate, peduncles axillary, elongat- 

 ed, one flowered ; petals about equal to the calyx. 

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