

PINK FAMILY. Caryophyllaceae. 
There are many kinds of Alsine, widely distributed, low 
herbs, liking moist ground and shady places, with small, 
starry white flowers; with four or five sepals; four or five 
petals, deeply two-lobed or none; three to ten stamens and 
three to five styles; capsule roundish or oblong, rather 
shorter than that of Cerastium, splitting to below the 
middle, with twice as many valves as there are styles and 
many seeds. Many of these plants are weeds. They are 
often called Stitchwort.. The Greek name means “grove,” 
the home of some kinds. 
EAP 3 An attractive little plant, with smooth 
Alsine léngipes. Stems, from six to fifteen inches tall, and 
(Stellaria) pretty little flowers, less than half an inch 
cain across, growing singly, or in loose clusters, 
ummer : 3 ‘ 
Mopeirw Sct. Bees. with white petals which are deeply two- 
Utah, etc. lobed, so that they appear to be ten. The 
capsule is almost black when ripe. This 
is common in moist and grassy places in Yosemite and 
when growing in the shade 1s taller and more slender than 
in the open. It reaches an altitude of ten thousand feet 
and is found in the East and in Asia. 
There are many kinds of Cerastium, abundant in the 
temperate zone, resembling Alsine; but usually downy and 
therefore called Mouse-ear Chickweeds. The flowers are 
white, usually with five sepals, five petals notched at the 
tips or with two lobes, ten or five stamens and five stigmas. 
The cylindrical. capsule, often curved, splits at the top 
into ten teeth. . 
Field Chickweed On the ledges moistened by the mist and 
Ceréstium arvénse SPtay that blow from the Yosemite water- 
White falls, among the glistening, wet grasses, 
Spring, summer these pretty little white flowers are quite 
‘es conspicuous. They smell pleasantly of 
honey, measure about half an inch across, and nave more 
or less downy stems, from five to ten inches tall. This is 
the prettiest Cerastium, though not so ‘“‘mousy”’ as some, 
and grows in dry as well as moist situations. 
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