ON THE MIXED HERBAGE OF PERMANENT MEADOW. 
1267 
The structural characters of the foregoing five species of Ranunculus (all more or 
less acrid) are thus seen to be very different, so far at least as their vegetative organs 
are concerned. Their floral structure is much more uniform. The peculiar structural 
endowments of R. bulbosus , repens, and Ficaria give them great advantages, while 
the others are able specially to assert themselves when the competition with associated 
plants is not severe. 
Caeyophyllaceye. 
This Order is only represented by three species, viz.: Stellaria graminea, S. Holostea, 
and Cerastium triviale. S. graminea and C. trimale occur on a large number of plots, 
but S. Holostea has only once been found in the samples, and neither S. graminea nor 
$. Holostea has ever been first, second, or third in order of predominance; nor has 
either of them, on any occasion, yielded as much as 5 per cent, of the produce. All 
are weak-stemmed plants, with relatively small true roots. Cerastium triviale, how¬ 
ever, has a great tendency, when placed under suitable conditions, to form both roots 
and shoots at the nodes, so that, under such circumstances, it increases rapidly. 
Cerastium triviale. 
This perennial weed forms intricate masses of slender shallow roots, and numerous 
prostrate slender leafy branches, which produce roots and shoots at the nodes. Root- 
hairs are abundant. It flowers early, and ripens seeds on a great number of the plots. 
The circumstances propitious to its growth are its hardiness, close habit, which 
enables it to insinuate itself between the branches and leaves of other plants, and to 
occupy any vacant ground, and its early and free seeding property, by reason of which 
the seeds may get dispersed by the mowers and haymakers. The following table 
shows that, although this plant occurs so generally on the plots, it very seldom 
attains a really prominent position as to amount of produce. 
Table LYI.—Relative predominance of Cerastium triviale. 
Cerastium triviale 
Was First, Second, or Third, 
Yielded 5 per cent, and over, 
among the total Miscellanese, as under. 
to the total Mixed Herbage, as under. 
1862. 
1867. 
1872. 
1877. 
1862. 
1867. 
1872. 
1877. 
ri2 . . . 
3 
Plots < 15 . . . 
, . 
3 
1 
. 
4 , 
9*2*6 
Il7 . . . 
2 
• • 
f First . . 
0 
0 
1 
0 
1 
Total < Second 
0 
0 
1 
0 
r 0 
0 
1 
0 
[ Third . . 
0 
1 
1 
0 
/ 
