CznAsTIUM Pumitum. | Dwarr CERASTIUM. 
CERASTIUM, Linn. Gen. PL. Decanpria PENTAGYNIA. 
Cal. 5-phyllus. Petala 2-fida. Cap/: 1-locularis, apice dehifcens. ' 
Ran Syn. Gen. 24. Herpa PENTAPETALA VASCULIFERAE. 
CERASTIUM pumilum floribus pentandris, petalis bifidis longitudine calycis, capfula calyce duplo 
longiore. ; Í | 
honc: c c CD C cC C — BÀ— ———— ————————  MÁOUUMMMMIMEMGPMBGMMAXMORXÉDONGOXDOPePRNA&só9:( ,Gt i55 
To the lyncean eye of Mr. Dicksow we are indebted for the difcovery of this fpecies of Ceraftium, fo 
very nearly related to the /ewrdecandrum, that if the two plants had not been feen wild on the fame bank, 
they might long have been regarded as one and the fame fpecies ; having raifed it from feeds, obferved it in 
all its ftates, and compared it, as it has proceeded in its growth, with the Cera/lium femidecandrum, we do not. 
hefitate to publifh it as a fpecies perfectly diftinét. For want of a more appropriate name, we have afligned 
it that of pumilum. 
It agrees with the Ceraffium femidecandrum in being about the fame fize, ufually a little fmaller, having 
nearly the fame habit, the fame number of ftamina, and in being alfo an annual; but differs from it in the 
following particulars. 
The whole plant, but more efpecially the ftalks and leaves, are more evidently hairy, being indeed perfeétly 
hirfute, nearly as much fo as in the vu/gatvm ; the flowers are confiderably larger, the petals being nearly twice 
the fize, fully as long, or rather longer than the calyx, of courfe more fhewy, more confpicuous alfo from 
their fuperior whitenefs, regularly bifid or divided down one third, fo that they greatly refemble thofe of the 
vulgatum, vifcofum, and moft others of the fame genus; tbe feed-veffels are much longer, and more tapering, 
for the moft part twice the length of the calyx, but not always fo; the chara&ter moft to be depended on confifts 
in the form, length, and divifion of the petals; its fuperior hairinefs is alfo a good prima facie charaéter; the 
hairs on the branches, it is to be obferved, are equally vifcous as in the /emidecandrum ; the feeds in the pumzlum 
are larger, of a darker brown colour, and rougher. : 
Mr. Dicxson found this fpecies, which may perhaps be more common than we are aware, on dry banks 
near Croydon. 
It begins to flower as early as February and March, rather fooner than the /emidecandrum, and ripens its 
feeds in. May. 
Slugs and fnails are fo extremely fond of the plant, that it is with great difficulty kept where they abound. 
Parts of the Fruélificatron. 
Partes Fruétificattonts. Q 
| | 6 | 
Fig. 1. Calycis foliolum au&. 5 Fig. 1. One of the leaves of the Calyx magnified. 
2. Petalum. à 2. A Petal. 
9. Stamina cum pifüillo. : 3. The Stamina with the Piftillum. 
4. Pifüllum. 5 | 4. The Pifüllum. 
| 5. Capfula End nat. 5. A Capfule of its natural fize. 
6. ; Bauer magnit. nat. à 6. A Seed of its natural fize. 
7. Semen auct. | $ 7. The fame magnified. 

