. Field and woodland plants. grasslike, sessile, and acute. The flowersare very similar to those of the Greater Stitchw^ort, but are sepals have each three veins, and are as long as the petals. The Little Chickweed {S. media), so troublesome in our gardens,belongs to the same genus. Its decumbent, branching stem hasa longitudinal line of haks placed alternately on opposite sidesfrom joint to joint ; and its ovate, smooth, succulent leaves areshortly pointed, the lower ones having hairy stalks. The Httlestarlike, white flowers grow from the axils of the leaves, and have 88 FIELD AND
. Field and woodland plants. grasslike, sessile, and acute. The flowersare very similar to those of the Greater Stitchw^ort, but are sepals have each three veins, and are as long as the petals. The Little Chickweed {S. media), so troublesome in our gardens,belongs to the same genus. Its decumbent, branching stem hasa longitudinal line of haks placed alternately on opposite sidesfrom joint to joint ; and its ovate, smooth, succulent leaves areshortly pointed, the lower ones having hairy stalks. The Httlestarlike, white flowers grow from the axils of the leaves, and have 88 FIELD AND WOODLAND. PLANTS each five hairy sepals, as long as the deeply-cleft petals, with narrow,membranous margins. These three species of Stellaria, and, in fact, all the species ofthe genus, are distinguished by their divided petals and the presenceof three styles ; but there is another group of flowers in the sameorder known as the Mouse-ear Chickweeds (Cerastium), also withdivided petals, but having either four or five TUE CUICKWEEI) Three of the species of this group may be included among thespring flowers of waysides. One of these is the Broad-leavedor Clustered Mouse-ear duckweed {Cerastium glomeratum), whichflowers from April to the end of the summer. It has an erect,sticky, hairy stem ; and pale green ovate leaves. The Uttle whiteflowers are tufted, on short stalks, with sepals and petals of equallength. A second—the Narrow-leaved Mouse-ear Chickweed ()—has a similar but spreading stem ; and the leaves arenarrow, and of a deep green colour. In this one, too, the sepalsand petals are equal ; but the former are hairy, and the flower-stalks are longer. The other is the Field Mouse-ear Chickweed WAYSIDES AND WASTES IN SPRING 89
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