CARYOPHYLLE^. 55 



Mollugo bellidifolia is used, like Saponaria, as a -resolvent, and Tnanthema is mentioned 

 among the bitter drugs. Purslane {Portulaca and Sesuvium) is a well-kuovvn pot-herb. 



Tribe I. SILENEJE. — Calyx tubular. Petals clawed, hypogynous. — Leaves exstipulate. 



1. SILENE, L. 



Calyx 5-toothed. Petals 5. Stamens 10. Styles 3. Capsule trilocular at the base, de- 

 hiscent at the summit by 6 teeth. 



1 • S. gallica, L. Annual, hairy ; leaves oblong-spathulate or lanceolate ; cyme racemi- 

 form : pedicels unilateral, much shorter than the calyx ; calyx 10-striate, cylindrical, villous, 

 at length ovoid-oblong, not umbilicate at the base ; petals small : lamina subentire ; capsule 

 subsessile: seeds flat on the back, granulose. — Vaill. Paris, t. 11./. 12. — S. quinquevul- 

 nera, L. .- petals red, with the border pale. — Hab. Naturalized in the mountains of Jamaica !, 

 along roadsides, Mac/. ; [introduced from southern Europe, naturalized in most temperate 

 countries, and iu some tropical hills]. 



Tkibe II. ALSINEjE. — Sepals distinct, or united at the base. Petals sessile, or wanting. 

 Stamens usually hypogynous. — Leaves exstipulate. 



2. ARENARIA, L. 



Sepals 5. Petals 5, entire or abortive. Stamens 10. Styles usually 3. Capsule-valves 

 twice as many as there are styles. 



2. A. diffusa, Ell. Annual, decumbent, pubescent; leaves oblong-lanceolate, mucro- 

 nate, attenuated at the base ; peduncles axillary, filiform ; sepals ovate-lanceolate, pointed, 

 equalling the capsule ; petals usually abortive ; seeds shining, very smooth. — A. nemorosa, 

 Kth. Stellaria elongata, Nutt. Stel. lanuginosa, T. et Gr. ! Spergulastrum, Mich. — Stems 

 long, branched ; leaves dotted ; peduncles solitary, exceeding the leaves ; petals, if existing, 

 nearly aa long as the calyx, white. — Hab. Jamaica !, Mac/., Bancr., Wils., at 4000', commou 

 in the south-eastern mountains ; [Carolina ! to Florida ! and New Mexico ; Andes, from 

 Mexico! to Peru! and Venezuela!]. 



3. STELLARIA, L. 



Calyx 5-partite. Petals 5, bifid. Stamens 10 (-3). Styles usually 3. Capsule-valves 

 twice as many as there are styles. 



3*. S. media, fill. Annual; stem decumbent, with an alternate, pubescent line; 

 leaves ovate or subcordate, glabrous ; calyx including the corolla, exceeded by the capsule ; 

 stamens usually 5-3. — Hab. Naturalized in the mountains of Jamaica, Mac/.; [introduced 

 from Europe]. 



4. CERASTIUM, L. 



Calyx 5(4)-partite. Petals 5 (-4), bifid. Stamens 10 (-4). Styles usually 5. Cap- 

 sule cylindrical, dehiscent at the summit by twice as many teeth as there are styles. 



4*. C. viscosum, L., Fr. Annual, pubescent ; leaves oval or oblong ; cyme contracted: 

 pedicels usually shorter than the calyx ; bracts herbaceous ; calyx-divisions hairy to the top, 

 equalling the corolla ; capsule nearly twice as long as the calyx : teeth straight, revolute on 

 the margin. — C. glomeratum, Thuill. C. spathulatum, Pers., Mac/. — The Jamaica form 

 resembles C. vulgatum, L., by the shape of the superior leaves, but the specific characters are 

 those of C. viscosum, to which C. spathulatum, Pers., has correctly been reduced in Grenier's 

 monograph. — Hab. Naturalized in the mountains of Jamaica !, March ; [introduced from 

 Europe]. 



Tbibe III. PARONYCHIEAH. — Sepals distinct, or united below. Petals perigynous, or 

 wanting. — Leaves furnished with scarious stipules. 



5. DRYMARIA, W. Ca^h . 



Sepals 5. Petals 5, bifid. Stamens 5-2, opposite to the calyx. Styles 3. Capsule 

 trivalved. — Leaves opposite. 



