ARENARIA trinervis.
Plantain-leaved Sandwort.
DECANDRIA Trigynia.
Gen. Char. Cal. 5-leaved, spreading. Petals 5,
undivided. Capsule superior, of 1 cell, with many
seeds.
Spec. Char. Leaves ovate, acute, stalked, ribbed. Keel
of the calyx-leaves rough, with three obscure ribs.
Syn. Arenaria trinervis. Linn. Sp. P I. 605. Sm. FI.
B rit. 4 7 8 . Binds, 191. With. 421. Hull. 95.
Relh. 171. Sibth. 141. Abbot. 97. Curt. Lond.
fa s c . 4 . t. 31.
Alsine plantaginis folio. R a ii Syn. 349,
INCURIOUS observers may pass by this little plant as a
variety of the common Stellaria media, to which it bears
some resemblance in general aspect; but its paler hue, and
uniform downiness, readily distinguish it. When examined
more carefully, the undivided petals and the 3-ribbed leaves
mark it decisively.
It grows in shady bushy places, for the most part on a
rather moist but not boggy soil. It is also partial to calcareous
ground, and flowers in May and June.
Root annual. Stems upright, but weak, and trusting to
other plants for support, much branched, spreading, round,
downy all over. Leaves on footstalks, opposite, ovate,
acute, entire, ciliated, marked with 3, rarely 5, evident ribs.
Flowers small, white, on longish solitary stalks, each proceeding
from a fork of the stem. Calyx longer than the petals,
acute, each leaf with 3 obsolete ribs, and downy at the back.
Capsule opening with 6 revolute teeth. Seeds black and
smooth.