74 : THE PINK FAMILY. [ Stellaria. 
S. graminea, soon become lateral. Sepals about 1} lines long. Petals 
shorter, with very narrow spreading lobes. Styles 3. 
In marshes and wet ditches, widely spread over Europe, Russian Asia, 
and northern America, but not an Arctic plant, although in southern 
Europe. generally confined to mountains. Almost universal in Britain. — 
Fil. spring and summer. 
5. S. graminea, Linn. (fig. 167). Lesser Starwort, or Stitchwort.— 
A glabrous perennial, with a creeping rootstock and slender quadrangular 
stems, diffuse or nearly erect, often above a foot long. Leaves sessile, 
linear-lanceolate and pointed. Flowers small, in long, loose panicles, which 
often become lateral as the flowering advances, the bracts small and 
searious. Sepals 3-ribbed. Petals narrow, deeply cleft, seldom exceeding 
the calyx. 
In meadows and pastures, along hedges, throughout Europe and Russian 
Asia. Very common in the low grounds of Britain, and up the mountain 
valleys as far as cultivation extends. VU. all summer, 
6. S. palustris, Ehrh. (fig. 168). Marsh Starwort.—Intermediate 
between S. graminea and S. Holostea, having the 3-ribbed sepals and 
deeply cleft petals of the former, whilst the flowers are nearly as large as 
in the latter. It differs also in some measure from both, in béing generally 
of a more glaucous colour, and the leaves are more regularly linear, not so 
lanceolate nor so pointed. The flowers are also fewer than in S. graminea, 
with the bracts more leafy. S. glauca, With. 
In marshy and wet places, generally diffused over temperate Europe and 
Russian Asia, but not always well distinguished from S. graminea ; it 
occurs also in Australia ; it may perhaps bea variety. Not very common 
in Britain, but recorded from several parts of England, Ireland, and 
southern Scotland. £7. summer. 
7. S. Holostea, Linn. (fig. 169). Great Starwort, Stitchwort.—A 
perennial, usually glabrous, with a creeping rootstock, and nearly erect 
though weak stems, 1 to 2 feet high, quadrangular, rather brittle, and 
sometimes slightly downy. Leaves sessile, lanceolate, tapering to a fine 
point, often 2 inches long or more. Flowers large, in loose, terminal, 
forked panicles, with leafy green bracts. Sepals about 3 lines long, 
scarious at the edge, scarcely ribbed. Petals near twice as long, rather 
broad, and cleft to about the middle. 
In hedges, open woods, and bushy places, throughout Europe and 
Russian Asia, except the extreme north. Abundantin Britain. 1. spring 
and early summer. 
XII. SPERGULARIA. SANDSPURRY. | 
Low, generally prostrate herbs, with opposite, linear, or subulate leaves, 
with smaller ones often clustered in their axils, and scaly scarious stipules. 
Sepals 5. Petals 5, undivided. Stamens 10 or occasionally fewer. Styles 
3, rarely 4 or 5, Capsule opening in as many entire valves. 
A genus of very few, chiefly Mediterranean species, differing from | 
Arenaria only in the stipules, which give them a strong resemblance to 
Lllecebracee. 
1, S.rubra, Pers. (fig. 170). Common Sandspurry.—An annual. or 
Xs 
