48 PINK ORDER 



Stellaria Linne 1753 Starwort 



(Lat. stellaria, star-like, from the flower) 



(Alsine Linne) 



PL 9, fig. 6. 



Sepals 5, rarely 4, separate, petals 5, or 4, or rarely none, white, notched 

 or 2-cleft, stamens usually 10, ovary 1-celled, styles usually 3, rarely 4-5, 

 fruit splitting usually into 6 valves ; flowers in terminal clusters or solitary ; 

 leaves opposite, simple, entire ; annual or perennial. 



1. Leaves ovate, the lower distinctly petioled ; 



weeds S. media 



2. Leaves mostly lanceolate or linear, without 



petiole 



a. Petals absent 



(1) Flowers in a terminal umbel-like cluster 



with small papery scales S. ambelldta 



(2) Flowers mostly lateral in the axils of 



leaves 



(a) Leaves lanceolate; stems erect S. boredlis 



(b) Leaves ovate; stems prostrate S.obtusa 



b. Petals present 



(1) Smooth or hairy, but not sticky 



(a) Floral leaves mostly small papery scales S. longifolia 



(b) Floral leaves mostly leaf-like S. boredlis 



(2) Sticky-hairy S. jamesidna 



PORTULACACEAE PURSLANE FAMILY 



Sepals 2, rarely 4-8, separate, petals 5, rarely 3-16, white to red or 

 yellow, separate, stamens 2-many, ovary 1-celled, style 1, 2-3-cleft, fruit 

 a capsule opening by a cap or by 3 valves ; flowers solitary or clustered ; an- 

 nual or perennial herbs with fleshy, alternate or opposite, usually entire, 

 leaves. 



1. Sepals 2, rarely 3 



a. Stigmas 3 ; flowers rose or white, rarely yellow 



(1) Sepals falling away Talinum 



(2) Sepals persistent 



(a) Stamens 5 Claytonia 



(b) Stamens more than 5 Qreobrom \ 



b. Stigmas 2 ; flowers rose 



