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S T E L L xA .R I x4l glauca*
Glaucous Marjh Stitchwort.
DECANDR IA Tngynla.
Gen. Char. Cal. 5-leaved, fpreading. Petals 5,
deeply cloven. Capf. fuperior, of 1 cell, with g
teeth at the orifice. Seeds numerous.
Spec. Char. Leaves linear-lanceolate, entire, glaucous.
Flower-ftalks eredt. Calyx three-nerved
fhorter than the petals.
Syn. Stellaria glauca. With. 420. Sm. FI. Brit. 475,
Sym.Syn. 108. Hull. 97.
S. media. Sibth. 141. Abbot. 96.
S. graminea (3. Hudf. 190.
Caryophyllus holofteus arvenfis medius. Rail Sjyn.o, 47.
A L TH O U G H it may be difficult to draw up a very
linking fpecific character between this plant and the S. gra-,
minea reprefented in t. 805, there can be no queftion of their
being perfectly diftindb fpecies. The prefent is found only ip
moift meadows, or about ditches. Its glaucous colour, perfedt
fmoothnefs of the edges of the leaves as well as of the ftem,
and larger flowers^ the petals being twice as long as the calyx;
to which may be added that the flower-italks are more uni-
verfally lateral and folitary, much lefs colledted into a panicle,
and the 3 nerves-of the calyx lefs fharply prominent; all thefe
circumftances help to diftinguilh it from the former. In colour,
lize and general habit it rather approaches the S. bolojiea, t. 5x1;
hut that is beautifully diftinguifhed by the total want of nerves
in its calyx, and the rough edges of its leaves and Hem.
S. glauca is not a very general plant, though it may he found
in moift lituations in many parts of Great Britain, efpecially
where the foil is gravelly. It begins to flower towards the end
of June, and lafts till Auguft. The antherae are of a pale
reddilh brown,