CARYOPHYLLEZ, XL. Oponrostemma. XLI. Levcostemma. ELATINES. I. Mermea, &c. LINE. 
is which separates it from Gypséphila, we are not at present 
acquainted with, unless that the capsule may be 4-valved. 
XL. ODONTOSTE’MMA (from odove odovroc, odous odon- 
tos, a tooth, oreupa, stemma, a crown; in allusion to the toothed 
petals), Benth. mss. in Lin. soc. herb. 
Lin, syst. Decdndria, Digynia. Calyx 5-leaved. Petals 
5, cuneiform, toothed at the apex. Stamens 10. Styles 2, re- 
curved. Capsule 1-celled, 4-valved, many-seeded. Herb with 
the habit of Cerdstium. Leaves elliptic, oblong, sessile, obtuse, 
hairy on both sides; in fact the whole plant is clothed with 
glandular hairs. Panicle trichotomous. Flowers white. 
1 O. Granpuxosa (Benth. 1. c.) 2%. F. Native of Ka- 
moon. 
Glandular Odontostemma. PI. 1 foot. 
- Cult. This plant will grow in any common garden-soil. It 
requires to be protected during winter. Not worth cultivating, 
unless in general collections. 
` XLI. LEUCOSTE’MMA (from Aevkoc, leucos, white, and 
crepa, stemma, a crown; flowers white). Benth. mss. in Lin. 
soc. herb. 
` Lin. syst. Decdndria, Digynia. Calyx 5-leaved. Petals 
5, bipartite or emarginate, with long claws. Stamens 10. Styles 
2. Capsule 1-celled, 4-valved, many-seeded. Plants resembling 
Stellaria in habit, with white flowers. 
` 1 L. Wessta‘na (Benth. 1. c.) plant spreading, smooth ; leaves 
linear-lanceolate, acuminated ; peduncles 1-flowered, axillary ; 
sepals acuminated ; petals deeply bipartite. 2%. F. Native of 
Kamoon, 
Webb’s Leucostemma. PI.'4 to 4 foot. 
2 L. ratiréxia (Benth. l. c.) diffuse, smooth; leaves ovate, 
mucronate, upper ones nearly lanceolate; sepals acuminated ; 
peduncles terminal, solitary, 1-flowered; petals emarginate. 
4%. F. Native of Kamoon. 
Broad-leaved Leucostemma. PI. creeping. 
` Cult. The species of Leucostémma will thrive in any com- 
eed soil, and are easily increased by dividing the plants or by 
seed. 
Post no. 53. p. 492 SıLe'ne Crsprate’nsts (St. Hil. fl. bras. 2. 
p- 163. t. 108.) hairy stem, branched ; leaves lanceolate, lower ones 
obtuse, upper ones smaller, acutish; flowers laxly racemose, erect ; 
calyx silky-hairy, cylindrical when in flower, but at length be- 
coming clavate ; teeth short, acute; petals obcordate, crowned 
in the throat. ©. H. Native about Monte Video in sandy 
places, and to the south of the river Plate. Flowers bluish-violet. 
Cisplatine Catchfly. Fl. June, July. Pl. 1 foot. 
Order XXVIII. ELATI’NEZ& (plants agreeing with Elá- 
tine in important characters.) Cambess. in St. Hil. fl. bras. 2. 
p. 159. 
A small family of plants, nearly allied to the Caryophyllee, 
from which they differ essentially in the organization of their 
stigmas, of their capsules, and of their seeds. The stigmas are 
capitate. The valves of the capsules are bent inwards at the 
margins, so much as to form dissepiments. The seeds are with- 
out albumen. They differ from Hypericinee, with which they 
agree in certain analogies, by the existence of a true central 
Placenta, and by their stamens being definite in number, &c. 
M. Cambessedes agrees with M. Bartling, who has united the 
Chenopddee, Amaranthacee, Paronychié@, and the Caryophyllee 
in one natural class, in spite of the difference of the insertion of 
their stamina, as they agree in most other respects. This order 
VOL. I.—PART. V. 
449 
contains only three genera, the Merimea, Camb., Elátine, Lin. 
and Bérgia, Lin. The two last genera with their species will 
be found in Caryophiyllea, therefore we shall only give amended 
characters of the genera here, and refer to the preceding Order 
for the species, 
Synopsis of the genera. 
1 Merimea. Calyx 5-parted. Petals 5. Stamens 10. 
Styles 5. Capsule 5-valved, 5-celled, many-seeded.; valves sepa- 
rating, bent in at the margins so as to constitute dissepiments. 
© 2 Exa’tine. Calyx 3-4-parted. Petals 3-4. Stamens 3-8. 
Styles 3-4, crowned by capitate stigmas, Capsule 3-4-valved, 3-4- 
celled, many-seeded ; valves separating, bent in at the margins, 
constituting dissepiments. 
3 Be'reta. Calyx 5-parted. Petals 5. Styles 5, approxi- 
mate. Capsule 5-valved, 5-celled, from the edges of the valves 
being bent inwards. 
I. MERI’MEA (in memory of Prospero Merimee, an ancient 
botanist, whose name is now almost forgot.) Cambess. in St. 
Hil. fl. bras. 2. p. 160. 
Lix. syst. Decdndria, Pentagynia, Calyx 5-parted. . Pe- 
tals 5. Stamens 10. Styles 5, connate at the base. Capsule 
5-valved, 5-celled, separating at the valves; valves bent inwards 
at the margins, so much as to constitute dissepiments. Seeds 
fixed to a 5-lobed central placenta, they are elliptical-oblong. 
Embryo straight. A small plant with oblong-lanceolate, sessile, 
serrated, pilose leaves, and axillary, solitary, stalked small white 
flowers. 
1 M. arenariorpes (Camb. 1. c.) Y%.G. Native of Brazil 
in the province of Minas Geraes. 
Sand-wort-like Merimea. Pl. creeping. 
Cult. An insignificant plant, only worth cultivating in bota- 
nical gardens or those of the curious. An equal mixture of 
sand and loam will suit it well, and it may be propagated by 
seed or dividing the plant. 
II. ELA’TINE (cedazn, elate, a fir ; resemblance in leaves). 
Lin. gen. no. 685. Geert. fruct. 2. p. 142. t. 102. f. 1. 
For the generic character of this genus as well as the specific 
character of the species, see p. 420. genus 21, of this work, 
under Order Caryophiyllee, from which it has been removed to 
the present order by M. Cambessedes. 
III. BE’RGIA (in honour of Peter Jonas Bergius, a profes- 
sor of natural history at Stockholm, who wrote several botanical 
works between 1757 and 1780, particularly on mosses, and 
plants of the Cape of Good Hope). Lin, gen. 791. D. C. 
prod. 1. p. 390. 
For the generic and specific characters of this genus see 
p- 420. genus no. 22. under Caryophyllee, from which it has 
been removed to the present order by M. Cambessedes, 
Orver XXIX. LI'NEZ& (plant agreeing with Linum in im- 
portant characters). D. C. theor. ed. 1. p. 217. prod. 1. p. 423. 
Calyx of 3-4, but usually of 5 sepals (f. 82. a.) hardly con- 
nected at the base, continuous with the peduncle, permanent, 
imbricate in zstivation. Petals equal in number to the sepals, 
and alternating with them (f. 82. b.), hypogynous, unguiculate 
at the base, connected with the ring of the stamens, as well 
as sometimes being connected together at the base, twisted 
Stamens equal in number with the petals, 
in estivation. 
3M 
