A LSI NE MEDIA. 
Common Chickweed. 
ALSINE Unnai Gen. PI. Pent ANDR t A TrigyniA. 
Cal. 5-phyllus. Petala 5-zequalia. Caps, i-locularis, 3-valviS. 
Rail Syn. Gen. 24. Herbie Pentapetalje Vasculifer.®. 
ALSINE media. Linneei Syjl. Vegetal, p. 246. Plora Suecic. p. 37. 
ALSINE foliis petiolatis, ovato lanCeolatis, petalis bipartitis. Haller hifi. helv. n. 880. 
ALSINE media. Scopoli Pi. CarnioL n. 376. 
ALSINE media. Bauhin pin. p. 250. 
ALSINE media feu minor. Gerard einac. 6 it. Rail Syn. p* 347, Common Chickweed. Hudfon FI. Angl 
p. 113. Oeder FI. Dan. 525, 438. 
RADIX annua, fibrofa, capillacea. 
CAULES plures, tenelli, teretes, fubrepentes, ramofi, 
viticulis geniculati, unifariam hirfiuti, apicibus 
fenfim incraflatis. 
FOLIA ovato-acuta, glabra, leviter ciliata; inferiora 
petiolata, fuperiora feffilia, connata. 
PETIOLI ad bafin latiora, hirfuti. 
PEDUNCULI uniflori, axillares, hirfuti, peradta floref- 
centia penduli, demum eredti. 
CALYX: pERiANTHiuMpentaphyllum, foliolis lanceo- 
latis, concavis, fubcarinatis, marginatis, hir- 
futis, Petalis longioribus , fig. 1 . 
COROLLA : Petala quinque, alba, nitida, ad bafin 
fere partita, fig. 3, 4, 5. 
STAMINA : Filamenta quinque, alba, inter Petala 
locata, Glandula ad bafin inftrudta ; Antherje 
fubrotundze, purpurafcentes, jig. 5, 6. 
PISTILLUM : Germen fubovatum ; Styli tres fili- 
formes ; Stigmata fimplicia, fig. 7. 
PERICARP 1 UM : Capsula unilocularis, in valvulas 
fex dehifcentes, fig. 8. 
SEMINA odto ad quindecem, fubrenifa-mia, afpera, e 
fufco-aurantiaca, pcdicellis receptaculo connexa, 
fig. 9, 10, audt. 
ROOT annual, fibrous, Capillary. 
STALKS numerous, tender, round, Unking root here 
and there, branched, jointed and ftringy, hairy 
on one fide only , growing thicker towards the top. 
LEAVES of a pointed oval {hape, fmooth, {lightly hairy 
at the edges, the lowermoft Handing on foot- 
ftalks, the uppermoft feflile, connate. 
FOOT-STALKS of the leaves broadeft at bottom, and 
hairy. 
FOOT-STALKS of the flowers, each fuftaining one 
floyver, proceeding from the bofoms of the leaves, 
hairy, when the flowering is over hanging 
down, finally becoming upright. 
CALYX a Perianthium offive leaves, each of which 
is lanceolate, concave, flightly keel-fhaped at 
bottom, with a margin at the edge, hairy, and 
longer than the Petals, fig. 1. 
COROLLA confifts of five white {hining Petals, di- 
vided nearly to the bafe, fig. 3, 4, 5. 
STAMINA: five white Filaments, placed betwixt 
the Petals, furnifhed at bottom with a little 
Gland; Antheras roundifh, of a purplifh 
colour, fig. 5, 6. 
PISTILLUM : Germen fame what oval ; Styles three, 
filiform ; Stigmata Ample, fig. 7. 
SEED-VESSEL a Capsule of one cavity, fplitting 
into fix valves, fig. 8. 
SEEDS from eight to fifteen, fomewhat kidney-fhaped, 
of a brownifh orange colour, with a rough fur- 
face, connected to the receptacle by little 
foot-ftalks,9%. 9> io j magnified. 
_ CHICKWEED being a plant which will grow in almoft any fituation, is confequently liable to afliime many 
different appearances : when it grows in a rich foil, and fhady fituation, it will frequently become fo large as to 
refemble the Cerajlium aquaticum ; while at other times, on a dry barren wall, its leaves and {talks will be fo minute 
as to make the young botanift take it for fome fpecies different from the common Chickweed : happily however it 
affords marks which if attended to, will readily diftinguifh it from the Cerajlium, and every other plant: exclufive 
of its differing from the Cerajlium in its generic charadter, its Petals are fhortcr than the leaves of its Calyx ; while 
in the Cerajlium they are longer ; hence a confiderable difference will be obfervable at firft fight in the fize'of the 
flowers of thefe two plants : and from all other plants related to it, it may be diftinguiffied by the Angular appear- 
ance of its flralk, which is alternately hairy on one fide only. 
The moft common number of its Stamina with us is five ; yet I have often feen it with lefs, and fometimes with 
more ; and this inconftancy. in the number of its Stamina has been noticed by moft botanic writers : Gouan, in his 
Flor. Monfipel. mentions from 3 to 10, with as many Piftilla ; this circumftance with refpedt to the number of its 
Stamina, unfortunately feparates it from other plants with which it appears to have by nature a very near relation : 
but as five Stamina appear to be its moft conftant number, Linnasus could not have placed it amongft thofe plants 
with ten Stamina, without doing violence to his fyftem. 
Of annual plants there are few more troublefome : it fows itfelf plentifully in the fummer, and remains green 
throughout the winter, flowering during the whole time, if the weather be mild : but its chief feafon for flowering 
is in the fpring. In rich garden mould, where the ground is highly cultivated, and in the fields about town, it 
does a deal of mifehief : by the quicknefs of its growth and the great number of its {hoots, it covers and choaks 
many young plants ; hence it {hould be carefully weeded from dunghills. 
The feeds are very beautiful, and have the greateft affinity to thofe of the Cerafiiwn aquaticum. 
When the flowers firft open, the foot-ftalks which fupport them are upright; as the flowers go off they 
hang down ; and when the feeds become ripe, they again become eredted. 
LiNNAtus has obferved that the flowers open from nine in the morning till noon, unlefs rain falls on the fame 
day, in which cafe they do not open : from what little obfervations I have made on this plant, it is not fubjedt to be 
affedted precifely in the fame manner here, having feen in the month of March, the blofloms continue rather widely 
expanded after repeated Ihowers of rain. 
It is conlidered as a wholefome food for Chicken and fmall Birds, whence, as Ray obferves, it has obtained its 
name : boiled it refembles Spinach fo exadtly as fcarcely to be diftinguiftied from it, and is equally wholefome, being 
a plant which may be procured almoft any where very early in the fpring, it may be no bad fubftitute where 
Spinach or other greens are not to be had in plenty, and much preferable to Nettle-tops and other plants which the 
lower fort of people feek after in the fpring with fo much avidity. Swine are very fond it, and prefer it to Turnep-tops. 
It is eaten by many Infedts, particularly by the Caterpillar of the Phaleena Villica or Cream ppot Tvger Moth, and 
other hairy Caterpillars of the Tyger kind. 
As a medicine it contains no adtive principle; but is frequently applied to hot, painful, and inflamatorV fwellings, 
either by itfelf, bruifed, or mixed with poultices, with good fuccels. 
