PINK FAMILY.
CARYOPHYLLACEÆ.
| Field Chickweed. | Cerastium arvense. |
Found in May on dry and sandy banks.
The stalk branches a little for the flowers, and varies in height from 6 to 10 inches; it is rough with hairs, and green.
The small, grass-like leaves are rough-hairy, and green; they are set in pairs, joined about the stalk in a marked cup-like socket; the pairs occur at right angles to each other.
The small flowers commonly have 5 petals apiece, but sometimes the number is scamped and they are contented with 4 instead; each petal is so deeply cleft as to give the appearance of being quite divided; the texture is thin enough to show the veins, the outer surface is glossy, and the color is white; the calyx has as many sharp-pointed divisions as there are petals, and is green; the 10 stamens are pale straw-color. The flowers form little groups on long stems which spring from the angles of the leaves in pairs.
After the manner of the Pinks this nice little plant sets a blossom between the fork of the main stems.