ALSINE, or CHICKWEED: A genus of the trigynia order, belonging to the pentandria class of plants; and, in the natural method, ranking under the 22d order, Caryophyllaei. The characters are: The calyx is quinquephyllous: The corolla consists of five equal petals, longer than the calyx: The stamens consist of five capillary filaments; the antherae are roundish: The pistillum has an oval germin, three filiform styli, and obtuse stigmata: The pericarpium is an ovate unilocular capsule, with three valves: The seeds are roundish and numerous. Of this genus a great number of species are enumerated by some botanical writers; but none
of them possess any remarkable properties, except the media, or common chickweed, with white blossoms, which is so well known as to need no particular description.—This species affords a notable instance of what is called the sleep of plants: for, every night, the leaves approach in pairs, so as to include within their upper surfaces the tender rudiments of the new shoots; and the uppermost pair but one at the end of the stalk are furnished with longer leaf-stalks than the others; so that they can close upon the terminating pair, and protect the end of the branch. The young shoots and leaves, when boiled, can hardly be distinguished from spring spinach. They are deemed refreshing and nutritive, and an excellent food for persons of a consumptive habit of body.—Swine are extremely fond of chickweed; cows and horses eat it; sheep are indifferent to it; and goats refuse it.