CHICKWEED. 



5 



germs roundish ; styles three, capillary spreading; stigmas 

 obtuse. Pericarp : capsule ovate, covered, one-celled, six- 

 valved. Seeds very many, roundish, compressed. 



Essential character'. — Calyx five-leaved, spreading. Pe- 

 tals five, two-parted. Capsule superior, one-celled, many- 

 seeded, six-toothed at top. 



The species of common chickweed assumes very different 

 appearances in different soils and situations : it thrives in all 

 soils, from the damp and boggy vv^oods to the driest gravel- 

 walk in gardens, and is often seen with leaves near two inches 

 long, and more than an inch broad, and the height sometimes 

 exceeding half a yard. The number of stamens is uncertain : 

 in damp situations, with a northern aspect, they amount to 

 ten ; and in drier soils, and in more sunny exposures, the 

 number is usually three to five. The leaves are ovated, and 

 the stalks procumbent, having the lateral line alternately 

 hairy. When the flowers first open, the peduncles are up- 

 right ; as the flowers go off, they hang down ; and when the 

 seeds ripen, they again become upright. The flowers open 

 from nine in the morning till noon ; but are shut during rain. 

 They are pendent after rain ; but, in the course of a few days, 

 rise again. At night, the leaves approach in pairs, so as to 

 inclose between their upper surfaces the tender buds ; and 

 the two upper leaves but one at the end of the stalk are 

 furnished with longer petioles than the others, so that they 

 can close upon the terminating pair, and protect the end of 

 the branch. This is always mentioned as a very remarkable 

 instance of the sleep of plants. 



The "Stellaria media" is distinguished from the "Ceras- 

 tiums " by the number of pistils, and by having the petals 

 shorter than the leaves of the calyx ; and particularly from 

 the " Stellaria nemorum," by having the stalk alternately 

 hairy on one side only. The young shoots and leaves, when 

 boiled, can scarcely be distinguished from spring spinach, and 

 are equally wholesome. Swine are very fond of it ; cows and 

 horses eat it ; sheep are careless of it; and goats refuse it. It 

 is a very grateful food to small birds and young chickens, 

 and it is eaten by many insects. As a medicine, it was 



