42 
Colorado Agricultural College 
9. CHICKWEED FAMILY 
(Alsinaceae) 
Ovary 2-5 celled; fruit a capsule opening with from 2-10 
valves; seeds several to many; embryo curved around the outside 
of the mealy endosperm. 
Key to Genera 
Seeds circular in outline — regular in shape 1..8tellaria 
Seeds wedge-shaped — irregular in shape 2..Cerastium 
1. Chickweed, Starwort 
{Alsme L., Stellaria L.) 
Ovary 1-celled ; capsule short, opening by 5-6 valves; seeds flattened or 
1. Common Chickweed {^tellaria media 
{L.) Cyrill., Alsine media L.) (Fig. 59). — 
Seeds deep-neutral-gray to dusky-purplish- 
gray in color ; embryo so curved as to bring 
the apex and base nearly together; seeds cir- 
cular in outline or nearly so, flattened, the 
= ides marked with several rows of regular 
protuberances, arranged in concentric lines, 
which appear to end at the distinct notch in 
the edge ; seeds are .6-.S mm. across each 
face and .4-. 5 mm. thick. 
2. Mouse-ear Chickweed 
(Ccrastium L.) 
Ovary 1-celled ; capsule cylindrical, often 
curved, opening by 8-10 valves ; seeds rough, irregu- 
lar, marked with distinct protuberances or mere 
lines; markings may be very irregular or somewhat 
regular ; seeds more or less flattened on sides and 
edges. 
Large Mouse-ear Chickweed (Ccrastium vul- 
gatum L.) (Fig. 60). — Seeds brick-red in color; 
embryo so curved as to bring the apex and bnse 
nearly together ; seeds usually wedge-shaped, flat- 
tened, notched at the narrow end, the sides marked 
with irregular, blister-like protuberances ; seeds 
•4-.6 mm. long, .3-.4 mm. wide. 
10. PINK FAMILY 
(Caryophyllaccac ) 
Ovary 1-celled to incompletely 5-celled ; capsule 1-5 celled, 
opening by 2-5 valves at the apex; seeds numerous, either with 
rounded or prickly projections, or rarely smooth; embryo usually 
coiled or curved around the mealy endosperm. 
I'ig. 60. Large Mouse- 
ear Chickweed (Cerast- 
ium vulgatum). a. & b. 
'I views, c*. P]dge view. 
X 20. 
