Myosoton aquaticum (L.) Moench, Methodus 225. 1794. Cerastium aquaticum L., Sp. Pl. 439. 1753. Stellaria aquatica (L.) Scop., Fl. Carn. ed. 2, 772; Edgew. &. Hook. f. in Fl. Brit. India 1: 229. 1874.

Herbs, perennial, erect, suberect or decumbent, 15 - 50 (-100) cm high; upper parts glandular-pubescent. Leaves narrowly ovate, acute at apex, 2 - 5 x 1 - 2 cm, sometimes longer; lower leaves often petiolate; upper ones sessile. Inflorescences somewhat; 5 - 20-flowered or more, elongating in fruit; bracts foliaceous. Sepals oblong to ovate-oblong, obtuse at apex, 5 - 7 mm long in flower, 7 - 10 mm in fruit, often not scarious- margined. Petals 2-fid up to base, 6 - 7 mm long, white. Stamens 10. Styles 5. Capsules ovoid, ca 9 mm long, dehiscing into 5, 2-dentate valves; seeds numerous, reniform to subglobose, ca 1 mm in diam., brown, tuberculate.

Fl. May - July; Fr. July - Sept.

Distrib. India: Temperate and alpine Himalayas, above 2100 m. Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Meghalaya.

W. Asia and Europe.