I. Alsine Aquática (L.) Britton. Water Mouse-Ear Chick Weed

Fig. 1749

Cerastium aquaticum L. Sp. Pl. 430. 1753.

Stellaria aquatica Scop. Fl. Carn. Ed. 2, 1: 319. 1772.

Alsine aquatica Britton, Mem. Torr. Club 5: 356. 1894.

Perennial, stem angled, mostly glandular-pubescent above, nearly glabrous below, ascending or decumbent, branched, 1°-2 1/2° long. Leaves ovate or ovate-lanceolate, acute at the apex, the upper sessile and subcordate, the lower petioled, rounded at the base, 1'-2' long; flowers about 1/2' broad, solitary in the forks of the stem and in terminal cymes; pedicels slender, glandular, deflexed and much longer than the calyx in fruit; calyx campanulate; sepals ovate, acute, about one-half as long as the 2-cleft petals; stamens 10; styles 5, alternate with the sepals, rarely 6; capsule ovoid-oblong, slightly longer than the calyx; seeds rough.

In wet and waste places, Quebec and Ontario to Pennsylvania. Also in British Columbia. Adventive from Europe. Water-chickweed. May-Aug.

2. Alsine Humifùsa (Rottb.) Britton. Low Chickweed

Fig. 1750

Stellaria humifusa Rottb. Skrift. Vid. Selsk. 10: 447. 1770.

Arenaria thymifolia Pursh, Fl. Am. Sept. 317. 1814.

Alsine humifusa Britton, Mem. Torr. Club 5: 150. 1894.

Glabrous, stems branching, spreading and ascending, 1' - 3' long, purplish. Leaves ovate or oblong, fleshy, 2"-3" long, acutish or obtuse, sessile; bracts foliaceous; flowers few or solitary, terminal or axillary, 3"-5" broad; sepals ovate-lanceolate, acute or acutish, 2" long; petals 2-parted, equalling or somewhat exceeding the calyx; capsule ovoid, as long as the sepals; seeds smooth, brown.

In moist or wet places, Greenland and Labrador to New Brunswick and Maine, west to Alaska and Oregon. Also in northern Europe and Asia. Summer,

3. Alsine Uliginòsa (Murr.) Britton. Bog Starwort. Marsh Chickweed

Fig. 1751

Stellaria uliginosa Murr. Prodr. Goett. 55. 1770. Alsine uliginosa Britton. Mem. Torr. Club 5: 150. 1894.

Weak, decumbent or ascending, slender, generally growing in dense masses, stems nearly simple, 6'-16' long. Leaves oblong to oblong-lanceolate, 5"-12" long, 2"-5" wide, narrowed at the base, the lower slightly petioled and sometimes ciliate, the upper sessile; flowers 3" broad, in lateral sessile cymes, rarely terminal; pedicels slender; sepals 1"-1 1/2" long, lanceolate, acute; petals 2-parted, about the length of the calyx and the ovoid pod; seeds rough.

In cold brooks and springs, Maryland, eastern Pennsylvania and western New Jersey, north to Newfoundland, and in Michigan. Also in British Columbia and the Northwest Territory, Europe and Asia. Bog-, swamp- or marsh stitchwort. Summer.