BRITISH WILD FLOWERS. 
81 
II.—THE CHICKWEED TRIBE. 
Sepals 4 or 5, distinct, or cohering only at the base. 
GENUS VII. 
THE STITCH WORT. (Stellaria, Lin.) 
Lin. Syst. DECANDRIA TRIGYNIA. 
Generic Character _Calyx five-parted. Petals five, bifid. Stamens ten, or by abortion 3—8. Stigmas three. Capsule of one cell, six 
teeth at the apex, and many seeds. {Dee.) 
Description, &c. —This genus consists entirely of well-known weeds, all of which are perennials, with the 
exception of the common Chickweed, which was placed in a separate genus, called Alsine, by Linnaeus, though 
modern botanists include it in Stellaria. The genus is placed in the Linmean class Decandria on account of its 
ten stamens ; and in the order Trigynia on account of its three stigmas. All the species are small, straggling 
plants, with white flowers, most of which have the appearance of little stars, and hence the scientific name of the 
genus, Stellaria, which signifies a little star. 
1. —THE GREAT STITCHWORT. (Stellaria Holostea, Lin.) 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 511 ; 2nd ed., t. 632 ; and our Jig. 3, i Specific Character. —Leaves lanceolate, finely serrated. Petals 
in PI. 18. | inversely heart-shaped. Calyx without ribs. {Smith.) 
Description, &c. —This species is very common in groves, and on hedge-banks by the roadside, during the 
months of May and June. The flowers are always of a brilliant white, but they vary considerably in size, 
according to the soil in which they grow. The plant has creeping, underground stems, which occasion it to 
spread rapidly; while its erect stems, though slender, are sufficiently rigid to keep the flowers always 
considerably above the grass, and thus to render them very conspicuous. 
2.— THE GLAUCOUS MARSH STITCHWORT. (Stellaria glauca, Withering.) 
Synonymf.s .—S. palustris, Relz.; S. media, Sibth. Flower-stalks partly scattered, erect. Calyx three-ribbed, half as long 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 825 ; 2nd ed., t. 634. as the petals. {Smith.) 
Specific Character. —Leaves linear-lanceolate, entire, glaucous. 
Description, &c.— This is a very handsome species, with flowers bearing considerable resemblance to those 
of the Great Stitchwort; but distinguished from it by its smooth, glaucous leaves, and ribbed calyx. The plant 
generally grows on the borders of ponds or ditches, but it is by no means common in every part of England. It 
is a perennial, and it flowers in June and July. 
3.— THE COMMON CHICKWEED. (Stellaria media, Withering.) 
Synonyme. —Alsine media, Lin. j Specific Character. —Leaves ovate. Stems procumbent, with a 
Engravings.— Eng. Bot., t. 537 ; 2nd ed., t. 631. | hairy alternate line on one side. Stamens from five to ten. {Smith .^ 
Description, &c. —There is perhaps no English weed that is more generally known than the common 
Chickweed; partly from its being an annual plant, which will spring up in any soil and situation, and which 
M 
