Part 8

=Slender Pigweed.= Amaranthus hybridus L. (A. chlorostachys). Seeds smooth, highly polished, jet-black, double convex, broadly ovate, with a slight notch at the narrow extremity, 1.1-1.4 mm. long. Distinguished from the preceding species by having a seed ovate instead of circular. Introduced from tropical America. Not abundant.

=Rough Pigweeds.= Amaranthus retroflexus L. Sometimes incorrectly called red-root. Seeds smooth, highly polished, jet-black, double convex, broadly ovate, with a slight notch at the narrow end, .9-1.2 mm. long. The seeds of this and the next preceding are ovate, while those of the first two are very nearly circular. When seen edgewise, the hem-like margin of this seed is less prominent then in either of the preceding three noticed above. Found almost everywhere in annual crops. Introduced from tropical America.

KNOTWEED FAMILY. ILLECEBRACEAE.

=Knawel.= Scleranthus annuus L. As the seed is single for each flower, it is unnecessary for the ovary to open; the small, hardened, ten-angled calyx with its five thick lobes aid in protecting and distributing the seed within. The seed is seldom seen. Calyx straw colored, obovoid, 2 mm. long besides the five spreading, membranaceous lobes, which are nearly as long. A low spreading plant, resembling some kinds of chickweed.

AIZOACEAE.

=Carpet-Weed.= Mollugo verticillata L. Seeds orange-red, shining, flattened, kidney-shaped or ovoid, .4-.6 mm. long, concave on the thinner edge from which protrudes a nipple-like point, a low central ridge passing over the rounded edge. Native of warmer America. Needing sand.

PINK FAMILY. CARYOPHYLLACEAE.

=Cockle.= Agrostemma Githago L. Flowers rose-colored; pod erect, ovoid, about 16 mm. long; seeds dark brown to black, wedge-shaped-triangular, appearing as though the two extremities were bent together; surface covered with curved rows of conspicuous teeth, one side 3-3.5 mm. long. Introduced from Europe. In no sense a weed except in wheat fields.

=Thyme-leaved Sandwort.= Arenaria serpyllifolia L. Flowers white; seeds reddish brown to lead color, slightly flattened, circular to short-kidney-shaped. Each side covered with 4-5 curved rows of smooth, oval tubercles, giving the appearance of having two extremities bent together, about 5 mm. in diameter. Naturalized from Europe, delighting in light, poor soil. When well grown it becomes a tumbleweed.

=Larger Mouse-ear Chickweed.= Cerastium vulgatum L. Flowers white; pods cylindrical; seeds light-reddish yellow to dark reddish brown; slightly flattened, 4-sided, 2 of them straight, converging, one rounded, the other narrow and notched. Some of them ovoid, others nearly circular, covered with a few irregularly curved rows of tubercles, .4-.8 mm. in diameter. In large part introduced from Europe, though a native of this continent.

=Bouncing Bet. Soapwort.= Saponaria officinalis L. Flowers white; seeds dark lead-color, flattened, short-kidney-shaped to circular with notch on one side, 2 mm. across, more or less, with 6-7 curved rows of short, shiny tubercles. Naturalized from Europe, delighting in sandy soil.

=Cow-herb.= Saponaria Vaccaria L. Seed dull, jet-black, slightly roughened by great numbers of minute points, nearly spherical, 2.3 mm. in diameter. An annual very troublesome in spring wheat. Introduced from Europe.

=Sleepy Catch-Fly.= Silene antirrhina L. Flowers pink; seeds lead-color, slightly flattened, circular to short-kidney-shaped, each side covered with 5-6 curved rows of pointed tubercles giving the appearance of having two blunt extremities bent together, .5-.7 mm. across. Compare seeds with those of Arenaria above described. When in flower, two of the upper internodes are glutinous. Only found on thin soil.

=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.

=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.

=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.

=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 prickles. Introduced from Europe. Thriving on poor, sandy land.

=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.

=Purslane. Pussley.= Portulaca oleracea L. Flowers yellow, seeds jet-black, shining, 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.

=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.

=Bitter or Tall Buttercup.= 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.

=Bulbous Buttercup.= 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.

=Creeping Buttercup.= 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.

=Celandine.= Chelidonium majus L. Yellow sap, yellow flowers; seeds dark brown to almost black, ovoid, 1.2-1.5 mm. long, with 10-12 curved vertical rows of small square depressions on each side; projecting from one side a prominent white or cream-colored ridge, irregularly wrinkled when dry. Introduced from Europe. Persistent.

MUSTARD FAMILY. CRUCIFERAE.