[Illustration: WESTERN CHICKWEED NUTTALL’S STARWORT]
Stems usually swollen at the joints; leaves opposite; sepals 4-5; petals
4-5, or absent; stamens usually 8-10; ovary usually 1-celled.
Western Chickweed (_Cerastium brachypodum_) is one of the early spring
flowers to be found throughout the state, ranging from Illinois to
Oregon and Mexico. The 5 small white petals are notched at the apex. The
name is derived from the Greek meaning “horny” and refers to the
horn-shaped capsule from which the seeds are scattered through the
opening at the top. Several other chickweeds are found in the state in
early spring.
Nuttall’s Starwort or Chickweed (_Stellaria nuttallii_) is a lovely
white-flowered chickweed found on moist sandy prairies or in open woods
in Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana in March and April. The flowers are
about 1 in. broad, and the 5 broad petals are deeply notched at the
apex.
The pink family is well represented in cultivation, including the
carnation, sweet William, garden pink, baby’s breath, and others. The
red-flowered catch-fly (_Silene laciniata_), found in the mountains of
West Texas to Mexico and California, is known in cultivation.