Stellaria Stellaria, Retz.

8. S. palustris Retz. View in CoL , FI. Scand. Prodr. ed. 2, 106 (1795).

Creeping perennial, entirely glabrous; stems up to 60 cm, erect, quadrangular, usually smooth. Leaves 15-20 mm, linear-lanceolate, smooth, glaucous or green. Inflorescence lax, usually 2- to 9-flowered; bracts scarious, with green midrib. Sepals 5-7 mm lanceolate, acute; petals equalling or up to twice as long as sepals, bifid almost to base. N. & C. Europe, extending southwards to Corse, Bulgaria and Ukraine. Au Be Br Bu Co Cz D a Fe Ga Ge He Ho Hu It Ju N o Po Rm Rs (N, B, C, W, E) Su. S. fennica (Murb.) Perf. , Bot. 2ur. 2-3: 152 (1941) is like 8

but has the angles of the stems and the margins of the leaves rough with small papillae (as in

14),

and has the sepals only 4- 5 mm long. In N. Fennoscandia intermediates are found between it and 8, though further east it appears as a distinct species. More investigation is required before its appropriate taxonomic rank can be decided.