246 ORDER XXI. — CARYOPHYLLACE^E. 



Genus III— ARENA'RIA. L. 10—3. 

 (From arena, sand, in which the species grow.) 



Sepals 5, expanding. Petals 5, entire. Stamens almost 

 always 10. Pistils 3. Capsule 3- valved, 1 -celled, many -seeded. 



1. A. serpyllifo'lia, (L.) Stem diffuse, dichotornously divided, re- 

 trorsely pubescent. Leaves ovate, ciliate. Flowers axillary, or in the 

 divisions of the stem, solitary. Sepals hairy, acuminate, lanceolate, 

 somewhat unequal. Petals oval, erect, shorter than the sepals. Sta- 

 mens unequal, shorter than the calyx. Stigmas 3, simple. — White. 0. 

 April — May. Common in dry pastures. 3 — 6 inches. 



2. A. squakro'sa, (Mich.) Stem much divided near (he base, glandular 

 pubescent. Leaves short, subulate, the lower ones densely squarrose- 

 imbricate, rather obtuse, upper ones few. Flowers in terminal panicles, 

 few-flowered. Sepals ovate, obtuse, without n rves. Petals obovate, 

 three times as long as the sepals. — White. 2£. April — June. Sand- 

 hills. Common. 6 — 10 inches. 



3. A. stric'ta, (Mich.) Stems diffusely-ccespitose, glabrous, branched 

 from the base. Leaves subulate, linear, erect, 1-nerved, fascicled in the 

 axils. Floioers in a few-flowered panicle. Sepals ovate, rigid, 3-ribbed. 

 Petals oblong-ovate, longer than the sepals. — White. %. May — June. 

 Mountains. 4 — 6 inches. 



4. A. gla'bra, (Mich.) Stems filiform, decumbent at the base, caespi- 

 tose, glabrous. Leaves linear, spreading, almost setaceous. Flowers 

 8 — 12. Sepals oval, obtuse, membranaceously margined, nerveless. 

 Petals obovate-oblong, twice the length of the sepals. — White. 0. 

 June — July. Mountains. 4 — 6 inches. 



Genus IV.— STELLA' RI A. L. 10—3. (Chickweed.) 

 (From stella, a star, the form the petals assume.) 



Sepals 5, expanding, somewhat united at the base. Petals 

 5, 2-parted, often perigynous. Stamens 10, or fewer by sup- 

 pression. Pistils 3, or rarely 4. Capsules 3-valved, 1-cclled, 

 many-seeded. 



1. S. me'dia, (Smith.) Stem procumbent, with an alternate pubes- 

 cent line. Leaves ovate, glabrous. Flowers terminal or axillary. Sep- 

 als hairy. Petal oblong, deeply divided, hypogynous. Stamens 3 — 

 10. Pistils 3.— White. " 0. March— Oct. Common. 4— 8 inches. 



2. S. prostra'ta, (Bald.) Stem procumbent, slightly channeled, fis- 

 tulous, slightly pubescent. Leaves ovate or cordate, acute, smooth, the 

 lower ones on slender ciliate petioles. Flowers solitary. Sepals erect, 

 ovate. Petals deeplv divided, segments lineai*. ' Stamens usually 1. — 

 White. @. March— April. Flor. 1—4 feet long. 



3. S. pu'bera, (Mich.) Stems decumbent, with two opposite pubes- 

 cent lines. Leaves sessile, ovate, ciliate. Floioers axillary, solitary. 

 Sepals with membranaceous margin. Petals deeply divided, longer 

 than the sepals. Stamens 10. Pistils 3. — White. May. In rich soils 

 6 — 12 inches. 



4. S. UNiiao'RA, (Walt.) (Arenaria glabra of Ell.) Stem branching, 



