88 ENGLISH BOTAXT. 



numerous nntl short, and it has the flowering stems less elongated 

 at the base than in var. a. 



Var. 7, at least, is probably a distinet sub-species, as it retains 

 its short broad leaves and sepals when cultivated. 



It is very doul)tful if any of these be the C. latifolium of Linnaeus. 

 The plant usually so named by the botanists of the Continent 

 (except those of Scandinavia) is that which Dr. Walker Arnott names 

 C. g'laciale (Gaud.) ; though this name seems to belong only to the 

 small state found at the highest elevations on the Alps. This 

 Continental plant (C. latifolium, Reich. Ic. El. Germ, et Ilelv. 

 Vol. VI. Tab. CCXXXI. Fig. 4975) has broadly-elliptical leaves 

 tapering at each end, and much thicker in texture, the Avhole plant 

 more closely covered with a stilf pubescence of spreading hairs ; the 

 seeds twice as large as in the British C. latifolium, dark brown; and 

 the barren shoots are very few and straggling, but in other respects 

 similar to those of C. latifolium of British authors. 



C. latifolium of Scandinavian authors (judging from specimens 

 received from the late Professor Blytt) is precisely the same as var. ^ 

 described above, -which Mr. Backhouse accordingly takes as the type, 

 and considers our var. a as a distinct species. The seeds of both 

 these forms, however, are quite alike, and so are those of the remark- 

 able form from Shetland. I suspect that Reichenbach's figure of 

 C. al^jinum, quoted above with a mark of doubt under C. alpinum 

 var. 3, may really represent Smith's C. latifolium. 



Broad-leaved Alpine Chickweed. 



French, Ceraiste d Larges Feuilles. 



SPECIES IX.— CERASTIUM ARVENSE. Linn. 

 Plate CCXXV. 



Rekk Ic. ri. Germ, et Helv. Vol. VI. Caryo})h. Tab. CCXXXIV. CCXXXV. 



Figs. 4980, 4981, 4982. 



Eoot perennial. Rootstock much branched, producing numerous 

 prostrate and generally much elongated barren shoots and erect or 

 ascending nearly straight flowering stems. Leaves of the barren 

 shoots varying from oblanceolate to narrowly strap-shaped, atten- 

 uated at the base ; those of the flow^ering stems varying from ellip- 

 tical to narrowly Unear-lanceolate. First pair of bracts very much 

 smaller than the stem-leaves, lanceolate, with rather narrow mem- 

 branous margins ; secondary bracts very much shorter than the 

 flowering pedicels, with broad membranous margins. Flowers 

 generally numerous. Sepals oblong-lanceolate, rather obtuse, with 

 broad membranous margins, the herbaceous part with numerous 

 very short gland-tipped hairs, or sometimes longer articulated hairs 



