MAGAZINE 



OF 



ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY 



ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 



I. — On the British Species of the Genus Cerastium, being an at- 

 tempt to elucidate their distinctive characters. By Charles C. 

 Babington, M. A. F. L. S. &c. (Plate VI.) 



CERASTIUM, Linn. 

 Calyx of 5 sepals. Petals 5, bifid. Stamens 10-5-4. Styles 

 5-4. Capsule 1 -celled, many-seeded, cylindrical, the apex opening 

 by 10 or 8 erect teetli. 



A. Cerastii vulgati, Fries. The petals equalling or shorter 

 than the calyx, 

 a. Persistentes, Fries. The capsule curved, the petals 

 about equal to the calyx, but sometimes slightly longer. 

 1. Cerastium vulgatum, Linn. Sm. — Leaves oval, petals about as 

 long as the calyx, sepals lanceolate, acute, and together with the 

 bractese,herbaceousand hairy throughout; capsule cylindrical, curved, 

 about twice as long as the calyx, fruit-stalks about as long as the 

 calyx. 



C. vulgatum, Linn. Sp. PL 627. Sm. Fl. Brit. 496. Eng. Bot. 789. 

 D. Cand. Prod. i. 415. Reichenb. Icon. Plant, f. 385, 386, 

 387- Host. Fl. i. Aust. 555. Reichenb. Fl. excurs. 4970. 

 Hooker, Br. Fl. 215. Lind. Syn. 51. Mack. Fl. Hibern. 48. 

 C. viscosum, Huds. Fl. Ang. 200. Curt. Fl. Lond. ed. 1. Wahl. 

 Fl. Suec. (excl. var.) 517- Gaud. Fl. Helv. iii. 240. Fries Nov. 

 Suec. ed. 2, 128. 

 C. glomeratum, Koch, Syn. Fl. Germ. 121. 

 vol. n. no. 9. o 



