CAKYOPHYLLACEJ]. 



131 



5. Lesser Starwort. Stellaria graminea, Linn. (Fig. 165.) 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 803. Lesser 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 scarious. Sepals 

 3-ribbed. Petals narrow, deeply cleft, 

 seldom exceeding the calyx. 



In meadows and pastures, along 

 hedges, throughout Europe and Eussian 

 Asia. Yery common in the low grounds 

 of Britain, and up the mountain valleys 

 as far as cultivation extends. Fl. all 



Fig. 165. 



6. Glaucous Starwort. Stellaria glauea 5 With. (Fie 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 825.) 



Intermediate between the lesser and 

 the great Starworts, having the 3-ribbed 

 sepals and deeply cleft petals of the for- 

 mer, whilst the flowers are nearly as 

 large as in the latter. It differs also in 

 some measure from both, in being gene- 

 rally 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 the lesser S. with 

 the bracts more leafy. 



In marshy and wet places, generally 

 diffused over temperate Europe and 

 Eussian Asia, but not always well dis- 

 tinguished from the lesser S. ; it occurs 

 also in Australia. Not very common in 

 Britain, but recorded from several parts 

 of England, Ireland, and southern Scot- 

 land. Fl. summer. 



Fig. 166. 



160.) 



