HARPER'S GUIDE TO WILD FLOWERS 



forking many times into spreading branches. The minute flowers 

 lie in the forks. Summer. 



Open woods, New England to Florida, and westward. 



Carpet Weed. Indian Chickweed 



Mollugo vertitittkta.. — Family, Aizoaceae. Xo petals, but 5 sepals, 

 which are white inside, green outside. Leaves, small, in whorls 

 at the rooting stem-joints, broad, obtuse at apex, narrow at base. 

 July and August. 



A prostrate plant of the nature of a weed, common, grow- 

 ing in sterile soil, in beaten paths and cultivated ground, 

 too humble, almost, to attract notice. 



Corn Spurrey 



SperguU arvensis. — Family, Pink. Sepals and petals, 5 each. 

 Stamens, generally, 5 or 10. Styles, 5. Leaves, whorled, 1 to 2 

 inches long, thread-like, with very small stipules. July and August. 



A delicate, pretty plant of a bright green color in stem 

 and leaves, 6 to 18 inches high, found mainly in corn or 

 grain fields. (See illustration, p. 63.) 



Pearlwort 



Sagina. procumbens. — Family, Pink. Sepals, 4 or 5, longer 

 than the petals, broad. Petals, 4, or sometimes wanting. Stamens, 

 as many as sepals, or twice as many. Styles, 4 or 5. Leaves, 

 small, thread-like, numerous. After flowering, the leaf-stems 

 sometimes become hooked at the top. Summer. 



A small, matted plant, moss-like, spreading on the ground 

 in damp woods, on wet rocks, and near springs, chiefly near 

 the coast. 



5". decumbens. — Petals, 4, small, or sometimes wanting. Sepals, 

 stamens, and styles, 4. Leaves, short, bristle-tipped, thin, hairy, 

 clustered near the base. Summer. 



Sandy soil. 



Pine-barren Sandwort 



ArenkrU carolinikna.. — Family, Pink. Sepals and petals, 5. 

 Stamens, 10. Styles, 3. The pod splits into 3 parts when ripe. 

 Leaves, overlapping, spreading, bristly, awl-shaped. A tufted 

 plant with short and grooved stems. May to August. 



Above, the branches are leafless and bear many flowers in 

 cymes. A pretty flower, growing in sand. I have found it 

 growing on the road from Bridgehampton to East Hamp- 



62 



