THE PINK FAMILY 
43 
Dwarf Mouse-ear Chickweed. (Cerastium pumilum, Curtis).— A very similar 
species to the last, differing in the pointed sepals having broad, white membranous margins ; in the 
capsules being slightly curved upwards, not quite erect, and nearly twice as long as the sepals ; in 
the stems being only 1-3 inches high and only slightly branched ; and in the upper stem leaves 
being narrow, the uppermost with narrow, membranous margins. The whole plant is of a paler 
and yellower green, often tinged with purple, and not quite so sticky. 
Rare. Dry banks and rocks in the south. April — May. Annual. 
Little Mouse-ear Chickweed. (Cerastium semideeandrum, Linn.) — Another 
similar species to the Dark Green Mouse-ear Chickweed (Cerastium tetandrum), differing in the 
pointed sepals having broad, white, membranous margins ; in the petals being shorter than the 
sepals, narrowly oblong, and not distinctly notched ; in the stamens being usually 5, sometimes 
more ; in the capsule being very slightly curved upwards, not quite erect, and less than twice as 
long as the sepals ; in the stems being only 1-8 inches high ; and in the leaves being broader, the 
uppermost with broad membranous margins. The whole plant is of a light greyish-green, 
covered with shorter gland-tipped hairs. 
Common. Dry banks, walls, etc. April — May. Annual. 
Clustered Mouse-ear Chickweed. (Cerastium glomeratum, Thuill.)— Flowers 
\ inch across, white, in compact clusters, with 5 very pointed sepals, with long hairs and a few 
gland-tipped hairs, and narrow membranous margins ; 5 petals, as long as or a little longer than 
the sepals, oblong, notched, sometimes absent ; and usually 10 stamens. The capsule curved 
upwards, twice as long as the sepals or longer. The stems 6-10 inches high, erect, branched 
from the root, and hairy; and the leaves broadly oval, hairy, none with membranous margins. 
The whole plant pale yellowish-green, covered with long white hairs and a few gland-tipped hairs. 
Very common. On rich soils, moist fields. April — September. Annual. 
Wayside Mouse-ear Chickweed. (Cerastium triviale, Link.)— A similar species to 
the last. The flower stalks lengthening in fruit, in looser forked clusters, the sepals blunt, with 
broad membranous margins, and the leaves oblong. The whole plant is of a deep dull-green and 
hairy. [ Plate 24. 
Very common. Waysides, dry places. April — September. Biennial or Perennial. 
Alpine Mouse-ear Chickweed. (Cerastium alpinum, Linn.)— Flowers i-i inch 
across, white, 1 or 2 together on long stalks. Sepals 5, blunt, with broad membranous margins, 
hairy, with or without sticky glands ; petals 5, twice as long as the sepals, broad, notched ; styles 
5 ; and the capsule curved upwards, nearly twice as long as the sepals. Stems 3-6 inches high, 
branched from the base ; and the leaves broadly egg-shaped, the uppermost with narrow 
membranous margins. The whole plant is sometimes covered with long white hairs, and 
sometimes with short gland-tipped hairs, rarely without any. 
Rare. Fairly abundant in the Highlands of Scotland, more rare in Cumberland and Wales. 
June — August. Perennial. 
Arctic Mouse-ear Chickweed. (Cerastium arcticum, Lange.)— A very similar 
species to the Alpine Mouse-ear Chickweed, but with usually solitary flowers, the capsule nearly 
straight, the leaves in tufts, very few on the stems, and the plant clothed with stiff yellowish hairs 
and short gland-tipped ones. 
Very rare. Mountains in Scotland and Wales. May — August. Perennial. 
Field Mouse-ear Chickweed. (Cerastium arvense, Linn.)— Flowers \-i inch 
across, white, numerous, on rather long stalks, in loose clusters, with 5 rather blunt sepals, which 
have broad membranous margins and short hairs, sometimes tipped with glands ; petals 5, twice 
