Cerastium lanceolatum (Poir.) Volponi

Cerastium species are annual or perennial herbs, somewhat mat-like, stem erect or prostrate, simple or branched from the base, tomentose or pubescent with white hairs, sometimes glandular, rarely subglabrous, rootstock slender, rhizomatous. Leaves simple, opposite, ovate-lanceolate to elliptic-obovate, base connate, margin entire, apex acute to obtuse, glabrous or pubescent, petiole sessile to subsessile. Inflorescence usually in terminal, open or congested dichotomous cymes, 5-merous or rarely 4-merous. Flowers bisexual rarely unisexual, actinomorphic, pedicel usually erect, sometimes hooked near the apex in fruit, bracts foliaceous, margins scarious or herbaceous, sepals 5, free, margin scarious, membranous, petals 5, free, white, margin entire, apex bifid or emarginated, rarely absent. Stamens usually 10, rarely 4-5 or 8, filaments distinct, anthers 2-locular, dorsifixed, disk hypogynous, nectarines present. Ovary superior, unilocular, ovules many, styles 3-5, filiform. Fruit capsule, obovoid-cylindrical, exceeding the sepals, opening by 10 or twice as many short teeth as styles, carpophores absent. Seeds many, ovoid to reniform, rough, compressed, papillae tuberculate.

Cerastium species flowers are complete, bisexual, i.e., with functional male (androecium) and female (gynoecium), including stamens, carpels and ovary; rarely unisexual and pistillate. Pollination is entomophilous i.e., by insects, or cleistogamy i.e., by self or allogamy i.e., by cross pollination. Flowering/Fruiting: August-September/October.

Seeds may be dispersed by autochory i.e., self dispersal, anemochory i.e., wind dispersal, zoochory i.e., dispersal by birds or animals.

Perennial herbs, about 30-60 cm tall, stem erect or ascending, simple or branched, glandular pubescent, rootstock slender, rhizomatous. Leaves simple, opposite, lanceolate-ovate to elliptic, about 3-5.5 x 0.5-1.5 cm across, base clasping, margin ciliate, apex acute with pointed apiculate tip, midrib impressed above and slightly prominent beneath, lateral veins absent, petiole sessile to subsessile. Inflorescence usually in terminal, dichotomous cymes. Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic, pedicel slender, tomentose, about 1-2 cm long, bracts foliaceous, margins herbaceous, sepals 5, free, lanceolate-oblong, base truncate, margin membranous, apex acute, about 4-5 mm long, petals 5, free, white, margin entire, apex bifid, about 5-6 mm long. Stamens usually 10, filaments distinct, anthers 2-locular, dorsifixed, disk hypogynous. Ovary superior, unilocular, ovules many, styles 5, filiform. Fruit capsule, obovoid-cylindric, about 5-7 mm long, slightly curved at apex, slightly exceeding the sepals, with curved teeth, carpophores absent. Seeds many.

Cerastium species are susceptible to various insect pests, viruses, root rots and moulds.

Nilgiri and Palni hills of Western Ghats.

Not evaluated (IUCN).