CARYOrnTLLACE.T:. 70 



most ones becoming gradually broader and shorter until tlie pair 

 where the branching of the cyme commences; above this the leaves 

 or bracts become smaller, but still remain entirely green, without 

 any membranous margin. Peduncles when full grown longer than 

 the calyx. Flowers about ^ inch across. Sepals very acute, with 

 a white membranous strip all round the margin and apex. Petals 

 seldom exceeding the sepals, and often not so long. Capsule very 

 little longer than the sepals. Seeds orange-brown, with concentric 

 rows of small rather distant tubercles. Whole plant deep dull 

 green, vei'y viscous, thickly covered with short spreading hairs, each 

 terminated by a sticky gland; and besides these glandular hairs, the 

 leaves are covered with longer sul)-adpressed hairs, some of which 

 also occur towards the apex of the sepals. 



The parts of the flower are often in fours (whence the specific 

 name) ; but there are so frequently five, that no dependence can 

 be placed upon the flowers being tetramerous or peutamerous as 

 a distinguishing character in the group to which C. tetrandrum 

 belongs. 



Dark Green Mouse-ear Chickweed. 



French, Ceraiste Grele. 



SPECIES III.— C ERASTIUM PUMILUM. Curt. 



Tlate CCXIX. 



Iteich. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. V. Caryoph. Tab. CCXXVIII. Fig. 4969. 



Bab. Man. Brit. Bofc. ed. v. p. 56. Coss. & Germ. Fl. des Environs de Paris, ed. ii. 



p. 48. 

 C. glutinosum, Fries, Nov. Fl. Suec. ed. ii. p. 132. Koch, Syn. Fl. Germ, et Helv. 



ed. ii. p. 133. Gr. t Godr. Fl. de Fr. Vol. I. p. 2G8 ; et Auct. Plur. 

 C. obscunim, Chauh. ap. St. Am. Fl. Agen. p. 180. 



Eoot annual. Stems slightly branched at the base, erect or 

 ascending. Stem-leaves elliptical or oblong-oval. Pirst pair of 

 bracts smaller than the stem-leaves, lanceolate-ovate, entirely her- 

 baceous; secondary bracts broadly-lanceolate, much shorter than 

 the flowering pedicels, with a nai*row white membranous margin. 

 Sepals oblong-lanceolate, acute, with rather broad membranous 

 margins, the herbaceous part covered with numerous rather short 

 gland-tipped hairs and a few simple articulated ones. Petals 

 about as long as the sepals, oblong, distinctly notched at the apex, 

 with several branched veins. Fruit-stalks longer than the calyx, 

 recurved or reflexcd after flowering, ultimately nearly erect. Cap- 

 sule exserted, not quite twice as long as the sepals, slightly curved 

 upwards, and a little inclined to the line of the pedicel so as to 

 form an obtuse anirle with it. 



