741 Cerastium arvense L.

This polymorphic species is widely distributed in Eurasia and N. America. Several lower taxa are distinguished in Eurasia and America (Fl. Eur. 1/1964, p. 140; Hultén, Circumpol. Il, p. 224). The species is definitely native in N. and S. America. Within and outside the original area, which is impossible to define exactly, the species s. str. and other taxa have been spread considerably by man, for instance to S. Africa and New Zealand. The species s. lat. belongs to the circumpolar plants (Hultén, 1. cit.). Cf. also Meusel et al. 1965, map p. 145.