CARYOPITYS 123 



(e.g. Lychnis), an elongation of the axis between K and C. The 

 petals sometimes have a ligule (e.g. Lychnis), and are often bifid. 

 At the base of the ovary are often seen traces of the septa, which 

 in the upper part do not develope ; in some cases the plac. is 

 basal. 



Biologically, as well as morphologically, the fam. forms two 

 distinct groups, a higher type, the Silenoideae, and a lower, the Alst- 

 noideae. All secrete honey at the base of the sta., but while in the A. 

 the fl. is wide open, so that short-tongued insects can reach the honey, 

 in the S. a tube is formed by the gamosepalous K ; in this stand the 

 claws of the petals and the sta., partly filling it up, and rendering 

 the honey inaccessible to any but long-tongued insects, esp. bees and 

 Lepidoptera. The latter class, esp. in the Alps (see Miiller's Alpen- 

 btumen), are the chief visitors, and many of the S. are adapted to them 

 by length of tube, red and white colours, night-flowering in many 

 sp., or emission of scent only at night, &c. The fls. are commonly 

 protandr. Many A. are gynodioec. (cf. Labiatae). 



Fr. usu. a caps, containing several or oo seeds. It opens in nearly 

 all cases by splitting from the apex into teeth which bend outwards, 

 leaving an opening." The splitting may take place in as many, or in 

 twice as many, lines as cpls. The seeds cannot escape from the capsule 

 unless it be shaken, e.g. by wind or animals, and being small and 

 light have a good chance of distr. Embryo usu. curved round the 

 perisperm (in a few cases nearly straight). 

 Classification and chief genera (after Pax) : 



I. ALSINOIDEAE (flr. polysepalous ; sta. often perig.). 



a. Fruit a capsule opening by teeth. 



1. Alsineae (styles free to base ; 1. exstip.) : Stellaria, Ceras- 



tium, Sagina, Arenaria. 



2. Spergiileae (do., but 1. stip.) : Spergula, Spergularia. 



3. Polycarpeae (styles joined at base) : Drymaria, Polycarpon. 



b. Fruit an achene or nut. 



4. Paronychieae (fls. all alike ; stipules) : Corrigiola, Paro- 



nychia, Illecebrum, Herniaria. 



5. Dysphanieac (do., but 1. exstip. alt.) : Dysphania. 



6. Scleranthcae (do., exstip. opp.) : Scleranthus. 



7. Pterantheae (fls. in 3's, the 2 lat. abortive) : Pteranthus. 



II. SILENOIDEAE (fl. gamosepalous, hypog.) : 



1. Lychnideae (calyx with commissural ribs) : Silene, Lychnis. 



2. Diantheae (no commissural ribs) : Gypsophila, Dianthus. 

 BH. separate off groups I, 4 7 as an independent fam. Illecebra- 



ceae (Monochlam. Curvembryae), retaining the rest (Caryophylleae) in 

 Polypetalae Caryophyllinae. This is an unnatural separation of closely 

 allied groups. See discussion of relationships of these tarns, in Nat. Pft. 

 (Cary"phyllaceae, p. 68). 



Caryophyllata Tourn. = Geum Tourn. (Rosac.). 



Caryophyllatus (Lat.), with long claw. 



Caryophylleae (J3H.}. See above. 



Caryophyllinae (BH.}. The 41)1 cohort of Polypetalae. 



Caryophyllus L. = Eugenia L. (//ZT.)=Jambosa DC. p.p. (Myrt.). 



Caryopitys Small (Pinus p.p.). Pinaceae. 2 N. Am. 



