Part 6 (1/2)

=Forked Catch-fly.= _Silene dichotoma_ Ehrh. Seeds reddish-brown, flattened, the three sides and the corners rounded, thickest at one corner narrowing to the side opposite; seed scar in the middle of the narrow side, four curved rows of tubercles on either side of the seed extending to the scar, diameter 1.3 mm., the thick edge concave, containing 6-7 rows of tubercles.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 68.]

=Bladder Campion.= _Silene latifolia_ (Mill.) Britton & Randle. _Silene_ (Moench) Garcke. Flowers white; pod covered by an inflated calyx, seeds dull grayish brown, flattened, wedge-shaped, oval or 3-sided, 1-1.7 mm.

across, 5-7 curved rows or tubercles on each side. Naturalized from Europe.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 69.]

=Night-flowering Catch-Fly.= _Silene noctiflora_ L. Flowers white; seeds dull grayish brown, very slightly flattened, oval or short kidney-shaped, nearly 1.5 mm. across, with 8-10 curved rows of tubercles on each side. Naturalized from Europe.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 70.]

=Spurry.= _Spergula arvensis_ L. Flowers white; seeds jet-black, except a narrowly winged, light-colored margin, slightly flattened, circular in outline 1-1.5 mm. across, with a slight notch on one side, surface often sprinkled with delicate, fragile, light-colored p.r.i.c.kles. Introduced from Europe. Thriving on poor, sandy land.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 71.]

=Common Chickweed.= _Stellaria media_ (L.) Cyrill. _Alsine media_ L.

Flowers white; seeds reddish yellow to dark brown, somewhat flattened, nearly circular, each side covered with 5-6 curved rows of tubercles, giving the appearance of having the two extremities bent together, about 1 mm. in diameter. Introduced from Europe, thriving in cool weather in shade.

PURSLANE FAMILY. PORTULACACEAE.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 72.]

=Purslane. Pussley.= _Portulaca oleracea_ L. Flowers yellow, seeds jet-black, s.h.i.+ning, flattened, wedge-shaped, having three rounded nearly equal sides, broadly oval or almost circular, often having a curved tooth or point on one side, with 3-4 curved rows of minute tubercles.

Seed .5-.8 mm. in diameter. Naturalized from the southwest. Every gardener knows how difficult it is to exterminate this weed.

CROWFOOT FAMILY. RANUNCULACEAE.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 73.]

=Small-flowered Crowfoot.= _Ranunculus abortivus_ L. Achene light brown to straw colored, 0.8-1.2 mm. in diameter, oblong, 0.3 mm. thick, when seen in cross sections, surface uneven with minute wrinkles, pits and dots flattened, broad oval to circular, three-sided, bearing the remains of a short curved style. Rich, low woods, not a common weed.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 74.]

=Bitter or Tall b.u.t.tercup.= _Ranunculus acris_ L. Achenes dull, dark brown, two-beaked, somewhat lens-shaped, 3-4 mm. long, one edge very slightly convex, the other prominently so, or somewhat semicircular in outline, hem-like margin, obscure. Introduced from Europe. Low land.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 75.]

=Bulbous b.u.t.tercup.= _Ranunculus bulbosus_ L. Achenes dull brown, nearly circular, diameter 3-4 mm.; beak short, turned to one side, surrounded by a narrow, hem-like margin. In June, many meadows of New England and New York are yellow with great numbers of flowers. Introduced from Europe. Upland; fortunately not yet common in this state.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 76.]

=Creeping b.u.t.tercup.= _Ranunculus repens_ L. Achenes plump, dull, light-brown, nearly circular, diameter 3-4 or more mm.; beak more or less hooked, hem-like margin conspicuous. This species usually seeds very sparingly, but when once introduced, it looses no time in spreading by creeping stems. Introduced from Europe. Moist land; a rapid spreader by runners.

POPPY FAMILY. PAPAVERACEAE.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 77.]