D I ANT II 



351 



among hermaphrodite flowers, in which synanthesis is the rule ; 

 and we find dimorphic flowers. The petals are grooved by the 

 respective filaments of the five outer stamens. The colour of the 

 anthers is variable. 



Ovary. — This organ is unilocular, with remains of apparent 

 dissepiments. The two styles are free at the base, pale and 

 slender, and curve outwards in opposite directions, frequently 

 forming a beautiful double (helicoid) curve outwards and down- 

 wards. In synanthetic specimens and cultivated forms which 

 accidentally produce female flowers, frequently the styles are 

 curiously contorted, crossing each other and standing nearly 

 upright, and larger than those of the proterandrous flowers. The 

 dehiscence of the capsule bears a more definite relation to the 

 number of the styles and the phyllotaxis than to the subdivisions 

 in the whorls of the other reproductive organs. 



Seeds. — The seeds are peltate or orbiculate, convex above, and 

 either plane or somewhat concave below ; attached by the inner 

 surface (not by the margin) to funicles which separately spring 

 from the columnar placenta. The curved funicles have their 

 slight convexity turned outwards, so that the seeds are directed 

 downwards. The embryo is straight, and is usually situated 

 excentrically in the albumen. 



The affinity of Dianihus with allied genera is shown in the 

 annexed diagram, in which the degree of divergence, one genus 



li 



greater 



nes. 



Velezia. 



Allochrusa. 



Dianthus 



Acanthophyllum 



Tunica. 



Gypsophila. 







Vaccaria 



Saponaria 



