By Thomas Bruges Flower, Esq. 



203 



5. North-east District, Damp hedge banks at Swindon, Purton, 

 Morden, Lydiard, also near Marlborough. Habit that of " Stel- 

 laria nemorum (Linn.) with which this species is liable to be con- 

 founded at first sight, and to which it is closely allied, but the 

 latter plant differs by having fewer styles, six equal valves to the 

 capsule, the leaves only ciliated on the margin, and appearing under 

 the microscope to be very minutely dotted with raised points. The 

 seeds of " Malachium aquaticum " are very beautifully marked with 

 close papillae with stellate bases according to Dr. Bromfield. 



Cerastium, (Linn.) Mouse-ear Chickweed. 

 Linn. CI. x. Ord. iv. 



Name. From (her as) a horn, the curved capsule of some species 

 resembling the horn of an ox. 



1. C. glomcratum, (Thuil) Common or broad leaved Mouse-ear. C. 

 vulgatum (Smith). Engl. Bot. t. 789. Reich. Icones, v. 229. C. 

 mseosum (Fries). 



Locality. In fields, waste ground, as well as on walls and dry 

 banks. Common. A. Fl. April, September. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 



In all the Districts. Variable in habit, but well characterized, 

 as distinct from the following by its pale green hue, more obtuse 

 foliage, and capsules curving upward. 



2. C. triviale, (Link) Narrow-leaved Mouse-ear C. viscosum 

 (Smith). Engl. Bot. t. 790. Reich. Icones, v. 229. C. vulgatum 

 (Fries). 



Locality. In meadows, pastures, waste ground, on walls as well 

 as in marshes. Very common. A. Fl. April, September. Area, 

 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 



Generally distributed throughout all the Districts. Its procumbent 

 stems, dark green hue, more elongated leaves, with flowers larger 

 than those of the last, in small terminal panicles, the branches of 

 which become much elongated as the fruit advances to maturitj 7 , 

 and its deflexed capsules, especially distinguish it. 



3. C. semidc can drum, (Linn.) Semidecandrous Mouse-ear. This 

 species having but five stamens, while most others of the genus 

 have ten, has been named semi (i.e. half) decandrous a bad term, 



c 2 



