13. Alsine Boreàlis (Bigel.) Britton. Northern Stitchwort

Fig. 1761

Stellaria borealis Bigel. Fl. Bost. Ed. 2, 182. 1824. Stellaria alpestris Fries, Mant. 3: 194. 1843. S. borealis var. alpestris A. Gray, Man. Ed. 5, 93. 1867. Alsine borealis Britton, Mem. Torr. Club 5: 150. 1894. Alsine borealis alpestris Britton, Mem. Torr. Club 5: 150. 1894.

Erect or ascending, weak, much branched, glabrous, or pubescent above, 6'-18' long. Leaves membranous, lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, 1/2'-1 1/2' long, 2"-s" wide, acute, sessile, their margins ciliate or naked; inflorescence a leafy terminal compound cyme; pedicels slender,ascending or spreading; flowers 2"-4" broad; sepals ovate-lanceolate, acute; petals 2-5, shorter than the sepals, or none; capsule oblong, much exceeding the sepals; seeds smooth or obscurely roughened.

In wet places, Newfoundland to Rhode Island, New Jersey, Minnesota and Alaska, south in the Rocky Mountains to Colorado. Also in northern Europe and Asia. Ascends to 5000 ft. in New Hampshire. Summer.

14. Alsine Fontinàlis (Short & Peter) Britton. Water Stitchwort

Fig. 1762

Sagina fontinalis Short & Peter, Transylv. Journ. Med.

7: 600. 1834. Stellaria fontinalis Robinson, Proc. Am. Acad. 29: 286.

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

Annual, glabrous, stems weak, very slender, branched, ascending or diffuse, 4'-12' long. Leaves linear-spatulate, 4"-12" long, about 1" wide, the upper sessile, acute or subacute at the apex, the lower obtuse and narrowed into short petioles; pedicels filiform, 3"-15" long, erect or ascending, solitary or 2-3 together in the forks of the stem and branches and axils; calyx oblong-campanulate, 1" long; sepals 4 or 5, oblong or linear, obtuse, about equalling the ovoid-oblong obtuse capsule; stamens 4-8; petals wanting; styles very short; seeds densely tuberculate-roughened.

In wet places, Kentucky and Tennessee. April-May.