24 
and ultimately split at the top by 6 teeth. 
fore a 1-celled capsule, dehiscing 
Fig. 24. Seed of 
Chickweed, en- 
tire and in ver- 
tical section 
(mag.). 
CLASS-BOOK OF BOTANY. 
The fruit is there- 
by teeth, and you will 
observe that the teeth are Just twice as 
numerous as the styles. | ee ae 
Notice the small reniform* (—kidney- 
shaped) seeds, with the corrugated brown 
testa. Make a longitudinal section through 
one, and observe the eurved embryo, sur- 
rounding a central mass of floury ‘endo- 
sperm. 
For comparison with the Chickweed, examine 
any of the following plants :-—_ 
Mouse-ear Chickweeds (Cerastium glomeratum 
and C. triviale).—These are common garden weeds, 
hairy all over, and having the cymose arrangement 
of their flowers very conspicuous. Notice the re- 
markable similarity in most points to the common 
Chickweed. The petals are not so deeply cleft, 
the stamens are always 10, styles 5, and the fruit an elongated capsule 
dehiscing by 10 teeth. 
Pig. 25. Two-branched cyme of Cerastiui. 
* Lat. rena, a kidney. 
