BRITISH WILD FLOWERS. 
83 
GENUS VIII. 
THE MOUSE-EAR CHICKWEED. (Cerastium , Lin.) 
Lin. Syst. DECANDRIA PENTAGYNIA. 
Generic Character. —Calyx 5-parted. Petals 5, bifid. Stamens 10. Stigmas 5. Capsule 1-celled, cylindrical or globose, dehiscing at the 
point; teeth 10, circinate or ascending. (Dec.) 
Description, &c.— Some of the species belonging to this genus have handsome flowers; but, in general, 
both flowers and plants are small and insignificant. The name of Cerastium is derived from Keras, a horn, in 
allusion to the form of the capsule; and the genus is placed in the Linmean class Decandria from its ten 
stamens, and in the order Pentagynia from its five styles. 
1.— THE FIELD CHICKWEED. (Cerastium arvense, Lin.) 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 93 ; 2nd cd., t. 673 ; and our fig. 1, 
in PI. 18. 
Specific Character. —Stems ascending. Leaves lanceolate or 
linear, acute, or rather blunt. Flowers in dichotomous panicles. 
Peduncles pubescent, with glands intermixed. Petals twice as long 
as the calyx. Capsule oblong, longer than the calyx. ( Bentliam .) 
Description, &c. —This is by far the handsomest species of the genus, with the exception, perhaps, of the 
Alpine Chickweed. The Field Chickweed is common in fields and on hedge-banks in every part of England. 
It is a perennial, and it flowers nearly all the summer. 
THE ALPINE CHICKWEED. (C. alpinum, Lin.) 
This little plant has very large and handsome flowers, which appear in July and August, and are of 
a pure white. The species is found on the mountains of Scotland, and occasionally on those of North Wales. 
THE COMMON MOUSE-EAR CHICKWEED. (C. vdlgatum, Lin.) 
A very common and insignificant little weed. 
There are several other species of the genus; but none that are remarkable either for their beauty 
or utility. 
GENUS IX. 
THE SANDWORT. (Arenaria, Lin.) 
Lin. Syst. DECANDRIA TRIGYNIA. 
Generic Character. —Sepals 5. Petals 5, entire. Stamens 10, some of which are occasionally abortive. Stigmas 3. Capsule 1-celled, 
with 3 or 6 teeth at the apex, and many seeds. (Dec.) 
Description, &c. —The plants contained in this genus are called Sandwort from their growing generally 
in dry, sandy situations, where few other plants could find nourishment. The name of Arenaria signifies 
literally sand-plant. The genus is placed in the Linnasan class Decandria from its ten stamens, and in 
the order Trigynia from its three stigmas. The species are all dwarf plants, with small and frequently 
inconspicuous flowers ; but the seeds of many of them are very beautiful when examined with a microscope. 
The most interesting species are the following:— 
THE PURPLE SANDWORT. (A. rubra, Lin.) 
A very common species, growing abundantly on heaths, and dry pieces of waste ground. It is an annual 
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