86 ENGLISH BOTAXr. 



bracts about the midcllo. Plowcrs handsome, white, -^ to 1 inch 

 across or more. Capsule usually with about one-tliird of its length 

 projecting beyond the sepals, but sometimes a little longer or a 

 little shorter. Seeds about -to inch across, closely covered Avith 

 prominent rather acute tubercles, Avhich are puckered all round at 

 the base. Plant growing in tufts, with the harren stems forming 

 a compact mat, clothed Avith white soft hairs in addition to the 

 short gland-tipped ones, the proportion of the two being variable, 

 the former very numerous iu var. a. so that the plant appears quite 

 white. 



A glabrous variety occurs in Scandinavia and in Switzerland, 

 but of this I have seen no British specimens. I quote Eeichen- 

 bach's figure of C. alpinum with some doubt, as it has more the 

 mode of growth and habit of C. latifoiium of British and Scandinavian 

 authors. 



Hairy Alpine Chickweed. 



French, Ceraiste des Alpes. German, Alpea Ilornkraut. 



SPECIES VIII.— C ERAS TITJM LATIPOLIUM, Smith. 

 Plate CCXXIV. 



Koot perennial. Rootstock producing very numerous ascending 

 barren shoots, and somewhat flexuous ascending flowering stems. 

 Leaves of the barren shoots oblanceolate or obovate, those of the 

 flowering stems elliptical or roundish-oval. First pair of bracts not 

 much smaller than the stem-leaves, ovate-lanceolate or elliptical, 

 entirely herbaceous ; secondary bracts rarely present, elliptical, 

 very much shorter than the flowering pedicels, entirely herbaceous, 

 or sometimes with a very narrow membranous margin. Flowers 

 generally solitary, and rarely more than 2. Sepals ovate-lanceolate 

 or oval-ovate, obtuse, with broad membranous margins ; the herba- 

 ceous part with numerous short articulated hairs and still shorter 

 ones tipped with glands, sometimes the one kind and sometimes 

 the other predominating. Petals twice as long as the sepals, 

 obovate, bifid. Fruit-stalks longer than the calyx, slightly spread- 

 ing. Capsule conical-ovoid, esserted, about one-fourth longer than 

 the sepals, nearly straight, and in an almost continuous straight 

 line with the pedicel. Seeds pale reddish-brown, -^-ith, round the 

 margins of the faces, rather distant slightly-elevated elongated 

 tubercles or short ridges, which are sHghtly puckered at the sides ; 

 seed-coat adhering rather loosely to the seed. Plant with short 

 gland-tipped haii-s and slightly longer yellowish stiff articulated 

 hairs. 



