POLYPETALOUS EXOGENOUS PLANTS. 177 



shorter than the sepals, ofteu wanting. Stem l°-4° long. 

 May-October. Perennial. 



STELLAKIA, L. Chickweed, Starwort. 



Sejjals 4-5. Petals 4-5, 2-cleft, or 2-parte(i. Stamens 

 3-10. Styles 3-5, opposite the sepals. Capsule 1-celled, 

 opening by twice as many valves as there are styles, many- 

 seeded. Stems weak. Flowers white, on terminal pedun- 

 cles, becoming lateral in fruit. 



S. MEDIA, Smith. Annual ; stems prostrate, forking, 

 pubescent in lines ; leaves ovate or oblong, acute, the lower 

 ones petioled; petals shorter than the sepals. March, 

 April. 



S, PROSTRATA, Baldw. Smooth or nearly so. Stems 

 forking, prostrate ; leaves ovate, acute, all on slender pe- 

 tioles, the lower ones often cordate ; 2Jetals twice as long as 

 the sepals. Stein l°-2° long. Petiole mostly longer than 

 the limb. March, April. Annual. 



CERASTIUM, L. Mouse-ear. 



Sepals 4-5. Petals 4-5, obcordate or 2-cleft. Stamens 

 10. Styles 4-5. Capsule cylindrical, 8-10-toothed, many- 

 seeded. Floivers white, solitary or cymose, peduncled. 

 Herbs. 



C. VULGATUM, L. Villous and somewhat clammy ; stems 

 ascending; leaves oval, remote, the lowest obovate; cymes 

 crowded in the bud, spreading in fruit ; sepals lanceolate, 

 acute, as long as the peduncles, and half as long as the 

 slender capsule. Stems 6'-12' high. April, May. An- 

 nual. 



C. viscosuM, L. Hairy and clammy; stems ascend- 

 ing ; leaves lance-oblong, obtuse, the lowest wedge-shaped ; 

 cymes loose in the bud ; septals oblong-ovate, obtuse, shorter 

 than the peduncles. April, May. Annual. 



