Family: Caryophyllaceae
Cerastium
Citation:
L., Sp. Pl. 437 (1753).
Derivation: From the Greek kerastes, horned; alluding to the shape of the capsule.
Synonymy: Not Applicable Common name: Mouse-ear chickweeds.
Description:
Annual herbs; leaves opposite.
Flowers in terminal cymes, sometimes solitary; sepals 5, free or fused; petals 5, white, bifid; stamens 4-10; styles 5, opposite the sepals, rarely 3 or 4.
Capsule oblong or cylindrical, exceeding the calyx, opening at the summit by 10 teeth; seeds numerous, minute, reniform, tuberculate.
Distribution:
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About 60 species throughout the world.
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Biology:
No text
Taxonomic notes:
Cerastium fontanum Baumg. Subsp. triviale (Link)Jalas was recorded for S. Aust. by Jacobs & Pickard (1981), Plants of New South Wales, but no material identified as such has been seen by the author.
Key to Species:
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1. Pedicels equalling or slightly shorter than the sepals; flowers loosely arranged; stamens 4 or 5; sepals without glandular hairs protruding beyond the apex |
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2. Sepals without scarious margins; stamens 4 or 5; upper bracts completely herbaceous |
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C. diffusum 1. |
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2. Sepals with scarious margins; stamens 5; upper bracts scarious at least in the upper third |
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C. semidecandrum 2. |
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1. Pedicels shorter than the sepals; flowers in clusters; stamens 10; sepals with glandular hairs protruding beyond the apex |
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C. glomeratum 3. |
Author:
Not yet available
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