CAEYOPH YLLACE^G . 



125 



Fig. 157. 



1. Common Cerast. Cerastium vulgatum, Linn. (Fig. 157.) 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 789. Mouse-ear Chickweed.) 



A coarsely downy, usually more or 

 less viscid annual, branching at the base, 

 sometimes dwarf, erect, and much 

 branched ; at others, loosely ascending 

 to a foot or even two, occasionally form- 

 ing, at the end of the season, dense, mat- 

 ted tufts, which may live through the 

 winter, and give it the appearance of a 

 perennial. Radical leaves small and 

 stalked; stem-leaves sessile, from broadly 

 ovate to narrow-oblong. Sepals 2 to 2\ 

 lines long, green, and downy, but with 

 more or less conspicuous scarious mar- 

 gins. Petals seldom exceeding the calyx, 

 and often much shorter, sometimes very 

 minute, or even none. Stamens often 

 reduced to 5 or fewer. Capsule, when 

 ripe, cylindrical, often curved, and 

 projecting beyond the calyx. 



In cultivated and waste places, pastures, and woods, wet or dry, over 

 nearly the whole of the civilized world. Most abundant in Britain. 

 Fl. the tohole season. Its protean forms have much puzzled the bota- 

 nists of many countries to distinguish them into from 2 or 3 to 20 or 

 30 supposed species. The most conspicuous observable in Britain 

 are — 



a. Clustered C. (C. glomeratum). Tall and luxuriant, the leaves 

 broad, almost orbicular, the flowers in a compact head, the pedicels 

 shorter than the calyx, the stamens usually 10. In rich soils, in moist, 

 shady situations, but often, later in the season, assuming the inflores- 

 cence of the narrower -leaved varieties. 



b. Narroiv -leaved C. (C. viscosum, Eng. Bot. t. 790). Much branched 

 at the base, but usually rather tall. Leaves oblong or narrow. Sta- 

 mens usually 10. The commonest form in rather moist and rich mea- 

 dows and pastures. Pedicels often elongated in this and the 2 fol- 

 lowing varieties. 



c. Lesser C. (C. semidecandrum, Eng. Bot. t. 1630. C. pumilum, 

 Bab. Man.). Stems short and often slender, more branched and more 

 erect as the situation is drier. Leaves rather small, thicker near the 

 sea, more viscid in hot situations. Stamens usually about 5, but often 

 more. Capsules usually long. Very common in dry, poor, open 

 situations . 



