Cerastium viscosum. 
Broad - leaved Mouse - ear 
/ 
Chickweed. 
CERASTIUM Linnai Gen. P. Decandria Pentagynia. 
Cal. 5-phyllus. Petala bifida. Caps, unilocularis apice dehifcens. 
Rai Syn. Gen. 24. Herba: pentapetala vasculifera. 
CERASTIUM vifcofum ere£lum villofo-vifcofum. Linn a i Syjl. Vegetab. p. 362. FI. Suecic. n. 414. 
MYOSOTIS hirfuta et vifcofa. Haller hift. n. 895. 
MYOSOTIS hirfuta altera vifcofa. Fail!. Paris. 142. t. 30. fig. 1. 
ALSINE hirfuta altera vifcofa. C. Bauhin. pin. 25 u 
ALSINE vifcofa. Parkinfon. 768. 
ALSINE hirfuta Myofotis latifolia praecocior. Cat. angl. 
ALSINE Myofotis humilior et rotundo folio. Merret. pin. The Broader-leaved Moufe-ear Chickweed, 
Raii Syn. p. 348. Hudfon. FI. Angl. p. 175. 
RADIX annua, | 
t 
CAULIS palmaris ad pedalem, bafr ramofus, medius t 
caulis eredtus, laterales adfcendentes, dichoto- | 
mus, pilis glanduliferis Veftitus, unde fub vif- | 
cofus evadit. | 
$ 
? 
t 
FOLIA ovata, fubconnata, villofo-vifcofa, ad inferio- | 
rem partem caulis bafi anguftiora, e flavo vi- | 
refcentia. 4 
t 
FLORES in fummitatibus caulium planta adhuc in- | 
fantili arde ftipantur, adquindecem aut plures. ^ 
¥ 
* 
CALYX Perianthium pentaphyllum, foliolis ovato- $ 
acuminatis, longitudine petalorum, apice pur- | 
purafcentibus, vifcofo-pilofis, fig. x. % 
! 
COROLLA : Petala quinque alba, oblonga, angufta, | 
baii villofa, apice bifida, fig. 2. 
STAMINA : Filamenta decem, fubulata,. quorum % 
quinque longiora, bafi glandula inftruda, | 
fig- 3. 6 - I 
PISTILLUM: Gekmen ovatum: Styli quinque vil- | 
lofi germine breviores: Stigmata obtuftuf- 4 
cula, fig. 4, 5. | 
■% 
PERICARPIUM : Capsula corniformis, ore decem- 4 
dentato calyce dimidio longiore, fig. 7. | 
% 
SEMINA plurima, flavefcentia, fuborbiculata, crenu- | 
lata, fig. 8, 9. 
ROOT annual. 
STALK from three inches to a foot in height, branched 
at bottom, the middle ftalk upright, the fide 
ones bending upward, forked at top, covered 
with numerous hairs, each of which is termi- 
nated by a gland, whence it becomes flightly 
vifcid. 
LEAVES oval, flightly connate, hoary with a little 
clamminefs, at the bottom of the ftalk narrower 
at the bafe, of a yellowifh green colour. 
FLOWERS, while the plant is young, are clofely 
crouded together on the tops of the ftalks to 
the number of fifteen or more. 
CALYX: a Perianthium of five leaves, which are 
of an oval pointed fhape, the length of the 
petals, purplifh at top, and covered with vifcid 
hairs, fig. I . 
COROLLA: five white Petals, oblong, narrow, at 
bottom villous, bifid at top, fig. 2. 
STAMINA : ten Filaments, tapering, of which five 
are longer than the others, and furnifhed at 
bottom with a fmall gland, fig. 3, 6. 
PISTILLUM : Germen oval : Styles five, villous, 
fhorter than the germen : Stigmat a bluntifh, 
fig- 4,. 5 - 
SEED-VESSEL a Capsule, horn-fhaped, twice the 
length of the calyx, the mouth furnifhed with 
ten teeth, fig. 7. 
SEEDS feveral, yellowifh, roundifh, and notched, 
fig. 8, 9. 
AMONG the plants which are with difficulty diftinguifhed by the young Botanift, we may properly reckon 
three of our common Cerafiiums, viz. the vifcofum, vulgatum , and femidecandrium , as all of them have fome 
fimilarity in their appearance, occur frequently in the lame fituations, and are lubjedt to be much altered in 
their appearance, according to the foil and lituation in which they grow. 
■ The figure which is here given of the vifcofum, reprefents that plant in its medium ftate ; on walls it is 
found much fmaller; in meadows it is found much larger; and in both thefe fituations, as well as on dry 
banks and ant hills, it occurs very plentifully, and flowers in the months of April and May, being one of 
the earlieft in bloom. 
It is diftinguifhed from the others by the upright manner of its growing, by its broad hoary leaves, the 
narrownefs of its petals, and the crouded or cluftered appearance of its flowers before they blow : its leaves alio 
in general are of a paler colour than the reft. 
It is not remarked for any particular ufe; neither is it noxious to the Farmer or Gardener. 
Linnjeus obferves that the plant is liable to be much disfigured by a fpecies of Chermes. 
