380 
united at the base and opening at the top (f. 78.a.), and toothed ; 
teeth equal in number to the valves of the capsule, sometimes 
entire, sometimes bifid, usually 1-celled, but sometimes 2-5- 
celled from the partitions jutting out from’ the valves to the 
central placenta, sometimes incomplete, sometimes continuous 
to the axis. Placenta always central, it is free and rather 
conical in the 1-celled capsule, and sometimes, though seldom, 
continuous with the base of the styles; in the many-celled cap- 
sules it is connected with the dissepiments. Seeds indefinite, 
rarely definite, disposed along the central placenta, 2 rows in a 
series, with as many series as there are styles, and alternating with 
them. Albumen mealy, usually central. Embryo sometimes 
perepheric, more or less incurved, rarely straight, central, with 
the radicle pointing towards the hilum. This order is com- . 
posed of herbs or subshrubs with knotted stems, opposite, entire 
leaves, which are usually connate at the base. The flowers 
are terminal, solitary, or disposed in racemes, panicles, or co- 
rymbs, they are either white, yellow, or red, or the shades between 
these colours. They are inhabitants of mountains and pastures 
of all parts of Europe, Siberia, the North of Africa and North 
America ; few are to be met with within the tropics. Most of 
the genera are ornamental and well adapted for ornamenting 
rock-work and flower-borders ; but in Dianthus the pride of the 
order consists. This genus is almost unrivalled for the brilliancy - 
and fragrance of its flowers, and for the neatness of its leaves. 
Some are trifling weeds, as Spérgula, Alsine, and Cerdstium. 
The medical virtues of this order are but slight. Saponaria 
officinalis and one or two others have been praised for possessing 
antisyphilitic properties ; the root of Siléne Virginiana is reputed 
anthelmintic, and the Arendria peploides, being fermented, is 
used by the Icelanders as food. This order differs from all the 
foregoing in the placentas being central, not intervalvular, nor 
marginal, and from Linee in the cells being many-seeded, not 1- 
2-seeded as in that order, except from abortion, as well as in the 
valves of the capsule being connected, not separating from the base. 
From Malvacee it differs in the capsule not being of numerous 
distinct carpels surrounding the axis. The seeds of all retain 
their vegetative power for a length of time, therefore they are 
easily introduced in a living state from any part of the world. 
Synopsis of the genera. 
Trise I. 
SıLE`NEÆ. Sepals united into a cylindrical tube, which is 4-5- 
toothed at the apex. 
1 Gypséputta. Calyx campanulate, angular, somewhat 5- 
lobed, with membranous margins. Petals 5, not unguiculate. 
Stamens 10. Styles2. Capsule 1-celled. 
2 Ba’nrrya. Calyx tubular, profoundly 5-parted. Petals 
5, undivided. Stamens 10, 5 of which are fertile. Styles 2. 
Capsule 1-celled, few-seeded. 
. 3 Dia'ntuvs. Calyx tubular, 5-toothed, furnished with 2-6 
imbricate, opposite scales at the base. Petals 5 (f. 78. b.) with 
long claws. Stamens 10, Styles 2. Capsule 1-celled (f. 78.). 
Seeds compressed. . 
CARYOPHYLLEÆ. 
4 Sapona‘ria. Calyx tubular, 5-toothed, naked at the base. 
Petals 5, unguiculate. Stamens 10. Style 2. Capsule 1-celled. 
5 Cucvu‘satus. Calyx campanulate, 5-toothed, naked. Pe- 
tals 5, unguiculate, with a bifidlimb. Capsule fleshy, 1-celled. 
6 Site‘ne. Calyx tubular, 5-toothed, naked. Petals 5, un- 
guiculate, with an entire or bifid limb, usually furnished with a 
crown of petal-like bifid scales in the throat. Stamens 10. 
Styles 8. Capsules 3-celled at the base, opening at the top, 
6-toothed. 
7 Visca'rta. Calyx cylindrical, 5-toothed, naked. Petals 
5, unguiculate, with scales in the throat. Stamens 10. Styles 
5. Capsule 5-celled. Anthophorum long. 
8 Ly’cunts. Calyx tubular, cylindrically-clavate, 5-toothed, 
naked. Petals 5, unguiculate, usually furnished with a crown 
of petals like scales in the throat. Stamens 10. Styles 5. Cap- 
sule 1-celled. Anthophorum long. 
9 Acroste’mma. Calyx egg-shaped, 5-toothed, naked. Petals 
5, unguiculate, furnished with a crown of petal-like scales in 
the throat. Stamens 10. Styles 5. Capsule 1-celled. Antho- 
phorum short or wanting. 
10 Girua‘co. Calyx campanulate, coriaceous, with 5 long 
segments. Petals 5, unguiculate, naked. Stamens 10. Styles 
5. Capsule 1-celled. Anthophorum wanting. 
11 Vexe‘z1a. Calyx tubular, 5-toothed. Petals 5, with long 
filiform bearded claws (f. 79. ¢.), and an emarginated limb. 
Stamens 10. Styles 2. Capsule 1-celled (f. 79. b.). 
12 Dry'pis. Calyx tubular, 5-toothed. Petals 5, unguicu- 
late, with 2-parted limbs and with a crown of bifid petal-like 
scales in the throat. Stamens 5. Styles 3. Capsule 1-celled, 
cut round about, 1-seeded from abortion. 
13 Vıvra`nra. Calyx campanulate, 5-toothed. Petals 5, ungui- 
culate. Stamens 10. Stigmas 3. Capsule 3-celled, half 3-valved, 
many-seeded. 
True II. 
Asixr’z. Sepals 4-5, free, or hardly connected at the base. 
14 Orre'cta. Calyx 5-parted. Corolla wanting. Stamens 3; 
anthers cordate. Style 1, crowned by a capitate stigma. Cap- 
sule 1-celled, 3-valved. Seeds fixed to the bottom of cap- 
sule. 
15 Govu'rrrra. Calyx 5-parted, spreading. Petals 5, entire. 
Stamens 10. Styles 2. Capsule globose, 1-celled, 2-valved, l- 
2-seeded. 
16 Burro'nra. Calyx of 4 sepals. Petals 4, entire. Sta- 
mens 4. Styles 2. Capsule compressed, 1-celled, g-valved, 2- 
seeded. . 
17 Sacina. Calyx 4-5-parted. Petals 4-5, oF wanting: 
Stamens 4-5. Capsule 4-5-valved, 1-celled, many-seeded. 
18 Ma’ncn1a. Sepals and petals 4. Stamens 4. Styles 4- 
Capsule membranous, 1-valved, 1-celled, 8-10-toothed at the 
apex, many-seeded ; seeds kidney-shaped. 
19 Hymenr’tta. Calyx 4-parted, spreading. Petals i 
oblong, entire, length of the calyx. Stamens 4, alternate WI 
the petals, joined at the base bya little 8-toothed crown- 
Ovary ovate. Styles 3. Capsule S-celled. 
