140 CARYOPHYLLACEAE (PINK FAMILY) 
five oblong, pointed hairy sepals, joined at their bases. Stamens 
three to seven and styles three or four. Capsule ovoid, 
longer than the calyx and opening at the apex by six or eight 
teeth, or twice as many as the styles. Seeds very numerous, 
round, brown, flattened, roughened with rows of small tubercles. 
(Fig. 91.) 
Means of control 
In gardens, constant hoeing or hand-weeding, while the plants are 
young, is necessary in order to suppress this weed ; but among crops 
that will not be injured by the treatment, such as peas, strawberries, 
and grain. a spray of Iron sulfate will kill young Chickweed. 
FIELD MOUSE-EAR CHICKWEED 
'‘Cerdstium arvénse, L. 
Native. Perennial. Propagates by seeds and 
by rootstocks. 
Time of bloom: April to July. 
Seed-time: May to August. 
Range: Labrador to Alaska, southward to 
Georgia, Missouri, and California. 
Habitat: Dry, rocky places, usually on hills in 
the southern part of its range, but in the 
North invading pastures and meadows. 
A plant which is in many places cultivated 
for its beauty, the white, starry flowers being 
more than a half-inch broad, borne in graceful 
terminal clusters. But its creeping rootstocks 
make it difficult to keep within bounds, as every 
joint is capable of forming a new plant. (Fig. 
92.) 
Stems densely tufted, erect, slender, downy 
or sometimes nearly smooth, four to ten inches 
tall, simple or with few branches: Leaves rather 
! thick, linear oblong to lance-shaped or the 
Fic. 92.— Field lower ones somewhat spatulate. Sepals lance- 
Mouse-ear Chick- shaped, the deeply notched white petals more 
weed (Cerastium . 
arvensé). X4. than twice as long. Stamens ten or fewer; 
