phus nyctagineus.=

ILLECEBRACEAE, the Knotwort Family

Herbs, with opposite entire leaves, and minute flowers without petals.
(Prostrate spreading or freely branched plants, 3 dm. high or less;
flowers in summer.)

1a. Stipules none; leaves slightly connate at base, subulate
=Knawel, Scleranthus annuus.=

1b. Stipules present, but small; leaves elliptical or oval (Forked
Chickweed) --2.

2a. Stems pubescent; internodes seldom more than 1 cm. long
=Forked Chickweed, Anychia polygonoides.=

2b. Stems smooth; internodes about 2 cm. long
=Forked Chickweed, Anychia canadensis.=

AIZOACEAE, the Carpet-weed Family

Prostrate herbs, with whorled leaves and small whitish axillary flowers
without petals, in summer.

One species in Michigan =Carpet-weed, Mollugo verticillata.=

CARYOPHYLLACEAE, the Pink Family

Herbs, with opposite or whorled entire leaves, and stems frequently
swollen at the nodes. Sepals 4 or 5; petals separate, as many as the
sepals, or rarely none; stamens twice as many as the petals in plants
with conspicuous flowers, sometimes fewer in those with small flowers;
ovary 1-celled, with the ovules on a central axis, and with 2-5 styles.

1a. Calyx spreading, of separate sepals; flowers 15 mm. wide or less;
petals sometimes none --2.

1b. Calyx tubular, of united sepals; flowers in many species more than
15 mm. wide; petals always present --22.

2a. Stipules present --3.

2b. Stipules none --4.

3a. Leaves opposite; flowers pink (about 1 dm. high; summer)
=Sand Spurrey, Spergularia rubra.=

3b. Leaves whorled; flowers white (1-5 dm. high; leaves linear; summer)
=Spurrey, Spergula arvensis.=

4a. Leaves subulate or thread-like --5.

4b. Leaves linear to ovate --7.

5a. Leaves opposite (1 dm. high or less; flowers white, summer)
=Pearlwort, Sagina procumbens.=

5b. Leaves fascicled in the axils --6.

6a. Styles 4 or 5 (1 dm. high; terminal white flowers 5 mm. wide,
in summer) =Pearlwort, Sagina nodosa.=

6b. Styles 3 (1-4 dm. high; flowers white, nearly 1 cm. wide,
summer) =Stitchwort, Arenaria stricta.=

7a.