Cerastium Cerastium, L.

26. C. alpinum L. View in CoL , Sp. Pl. 438 (1753).

Perennial 5-20 cm. Leaves c. 1 0x5 mm, obovate to elliptic-oblanceolate, acute to obtuse at apex; if hairy, then long soft hairs present, at least at apex of young leaves. Flowers 1-5; peduncles 1-4 cm; bracts acute, with scarious margins. Sepals 7-10 mm, acute, truncate at base; petals about twice as long as sepals. Capsule 8-14 mm, the upper half narrower and slightly curved. Seeds 1-1-4 mm, acutely tuberculate. 2/2 = c. 54, 72 (144). Arctic and subarctic Europe, extending southwards to Britain and Estonia, and in most o f the principal mountain ranges o f Europe. Al Au Br Bu Cz Fe G a Ge G r He Hs Is It Ju No Po Rm Rs (N, B, W) Sb Su.

Very variable in habit, hairiness and leaf-shape.

1 Plant entirely glabrous (d) subsp. glabratum 1 Plant with long soft hairs

2 Pedicels and peduncles densely hairy with patent glandular hairs (a) subsp. squalidum

2 Pedicels and peduncles lanate, or with both glandular and long

soft eglandular hairs 3 Plant greyish- to whitish-lanate; at least young leaves with a

distal brush of lanate, entangled hairs (b) subsp. Ianatum 3 Plant greyish-green; all leaves evenly hairy, not lanate

(c) subsp. alpinum