SECT. II 



PHANEROGAMIA 



571 



rarely shrubs, with simple, linear, usually opposite leaves ; flowers 

 typically pentamerous, with calyx and corolla. Two whorls of 

 stamens, obdiplostemonous. Unilocular or incompletely septate 

 ovary. K5, C5, A 5 + 5, Gr(5). Fruit, a capsule. Seeds numerous, 

 embryo curved around the 

 floury perisperm. In re- 

 duced forms the fruit is 

 nut-like (Figs. 581-583). LTO^MMfc-ff 



Su H-FA M 1 1,1 KS AND G KNEKA. 



1. Alsineae Calyx poly- 

 sepalous ; petals with short 

 claws ; fruit, a capsule. Gerasti- 

 uni, Sj)er(jula,\\ith pentamerous 

 flowers ; Stellaria&ndArenaria 

 with tri-carpellary ovary. 2. 

 Paronychieae. Calyx polysepal- 

 ous ; corolla wanting or in- 

 conspicuous ; fruit nut - like. 

 Scleranthus, Herniaria. 3. 

 Sileneae. Calyx gamosepalous; 

 petals with long claws, fruit 

 a capsule. Lychnis and A<jr<>- 

 stemma-witli five carpels, Silene 

 with three, Dianthus and Sa- 

 ponaria with two. Cerastium 

 and Siellaria have white.flowers 

 with bifid petals and are con- 

 spicuous, early -flowering forms. 

 Species of Dianthus, Pinks, 

 have frequently attractive 

 colours and scent, and occur in 

 dry sunny situations. Ayro- 

 ./ niina Githayo (Fig. 582), 

 Corn-cockle, is a hairy plant 

 with pink flowers ; it is a 

 common weed in corn-fields. 

 Since its seeds are poisonous, 

 their mixture with the grain 

 may have serious results. 

 Suponariit officinalis occurs 

 imperially by the banks of 

 streams ; it is a herb attaining 



the height of a metre, with opposite, broad leaves and rose-coloured flowers, 

 saponin contained in all parts of the plant renders it poisonous (Fig. 583). 



Order 7. Polyearpieae 



This large order includes a number of families of very different 

 general appearance but exhibiting as common characters a superior 



KH;. 583.- Sn 



,,!,!,-;,! ,ijfi,-;n<ii;.-i($ nat. si/r). 

 POISOJTQUB. 



The 



