of the Genus Cerastium. 203 



guish C. alpinum and latifolium of Sir J. E. Smith, and have there- 

 fore followed Messrs Bentham and Lindley by considering them as 

 constituting only one species. Their extreme forms certainly are 

 very different, but intermediate states often occur, and it is then al- 

 most impossible to determine to which of the supposed species they 

 ought to be referred. Mr Bentham is of opinion that the C. latifo- 

 lium of our English authors is not the same as the Linneean plant. I 

 have therefore not quoted the Sp. Plant. 



The peduncles of our plant are said by Koch to be deflexed after 

 the flower has faded, and that is made a point of distinction between 

 it and C. arvense, in which they are described as erect. 



In the higher mountains of Scotland and Wales. June — August. 



7- C. arvense, Linn. — Stems ascending, prostrate below, leaves 

 linear-lanceolate bluntish, flowers in terminal panicles, sepals and 

 bracteae lanceolate, slightly acute and broadly membranous at their 

 margins and apex, capsule at length longer than the calyx. 



C. arvense, Linn. 628. Sm. Eng. Bot. 93. Eng. FL ii. 333. 

 Hooker, 217. Mack. 49, &c. 



C. arvense 1. commune. Gaud. FL Helv. iii. 244. 



Root strong, creeping. Stems decumbent below, the flowering 

 part ascending, covered with fine deflexed hairs. Leaves narrowly 

 lanceolate, often nearly linear, their edges fringed below, placed 

 closely upon the lower parts of the stem, but much more distant 

 upon the upper part. Flowers much more numerous than in C. 

 alpinum, usually about 7 i* 1 each di or trichotomous panicle, 

 sometimes amounting to 14 or 15, upon long stalks, which, to- 

 gether with the general stalk of the panicle, are covered with minute 

 spreading glandular hairs, (according to Gaudin the hairs upon 

 the peduncles are sometimes not glandular, and then they are de- 

 flexed like those of the stem.) Sepals and bracteae lanceolate, 

 their margins and apex broadly membranous. Petals white, twice 

 as long as the calyx. Capsule oblong, longer (shorter Sm.) than 

 the calyx. 



In gravelly and chalky places. April — August. 



Note. — The Cerastium aquaticum, Smith, appears to be more na- 

 turally referred to the genus Stellaria, or, perhaps, in conformi- 

 ty with the views of Fries, to form a genus distinct from either of 

 them. As, however, it is included in the genus Cerastium by 

 Smith, Hooker, and Lindley, I have added its characters and sy- 

 nonyms, together with a few observations upon its nomenclature. 



