138 XVII. CARYOPHYLLACE.E (OLIVEU). 



1. DIANTHUS, Linn. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. PL i. 144. , 



Calyx tubular, 5-toothed, with two or more imbricate opposite bracts, 

 sheathing the base. Petals 5, with long claws ; limb entire, toothed or 

 laciniate, not 2-fid nor provided with a transverse scale. Stamens 10. Styles 2. 

 Capsule dehiscing by 4 teeth or valves. — Herbs, with narrow grass-like 

 leaves. Flowers terminal, solitary or cymosely fascicled, usually rose or 

 purple. 



A considerable genus, principally European and Mediterranean, though represented by 

 8-10 species at the Cape, according to Dr. Sonder. The species are exceedingly difficult to 

 determine and define. The two following I leave as I find them ; they may or may not be 

 identical with extratropical species. 



Lower leaves densely tufted, spreading, 3-5 in. Flowers large. 



Calyx-tube l£-2 in. Claw of petals exceeding calyx 1. D- longiglumi*. 



Lower leaves erect, under 3 in. Flowers §— f in. Claw of petals 



equalling calyx 2. D- leptoloma. 



1. D. longiglumis, Delile in Ann. Sc. Nat. Ser. 2. xx. 89. Perennial, 

 with a branching diffuse rootstock, bearing large, rather dense tufts of spread- 

 ing, long, linear, grass-like leaves, gradually attenuate to a fine point and mi- 

 nutely scabrid-denticulate above. Flowering stems usually simple, 1 -flowered, 

 ascending ; the leaves narrow, flat or involute. Flowers 1|— 2 in. diam. 

 Calyx striate, 1^—2 in. long, with linear-lanceolate acute teeth ; bracts ovate- 

 lanceolate, with a long, narrow, but firm, acumen or cusp, half as long as the 

 calyx or shorter. Petals cuneate, incise-dentate, with very long claws. 

 Pich. Fl. Abyss, t. 12. 



Nile Land. Mountain precipices, Abyssinia, Schimper I 



2. D. leptoloma, Steud. ; Rich. Fl. Abyss, i. 42. Flowering stems erect 

 or ascending from a branched rootstock, simple or 2-3 times forked, a few 

 inches to a foot in height. Leaves rather rigid, erect, linear, acute, minutely 

 serrulate. Flowers solitary, £-£ in. diam. Calyx striate, acutely toothed, 

 \~ J in. in length ; bracts about 4, inner cuspidate, about half as long as the 

 calyx. Petals cuneate, acutely toothed. — L. abyssinicus, E. Br. in Salt, Abyss. 

 App. 64. 



Nile Land. Mountains of Abyssinia, Schimper ! Salt ! 



2. SILENE, Linn. ; Benth. and Hook. f. Gen. PL i. 147. 



Calyx tubular or variously dilated, 5-toothed, ebracteate. Petals 5-clawed ; 

 limb entire or 2-fid, rarely laciniate, usually with 2 transverse scales at the 

 base of the limb. Stamens 10. Ovary usually more or less stipitate, 1 -celled 

 or 3-celled at the base. Styles 3. 'Capsule dehiscing in 6 or 3 teeth °r 

 valves. — Herbs, various in habit, annual or perennial. Flowers in forking 

 or unilateral cymes or solitary. 



A large genus, chiefly European, Mediterranean, and temperate Asiatic, represented a 

 the Cape by 10 or 12 species. 

 Flowers in loose forking paniculate cymes. 



Glabrous or nearly so. Calyx elongate-tubular, 1-1 i in. . . . 1. S. Macrosole*- 



