Saponaria CARYOPHYLLACEAE Lychnis 



pod 4-toothed at the apex. About 3 species, natives of Eurasia; one occurring as a 

 weed in China. (Latin: sapo, soap, because the mucilaginous juice of some species 

 forms a lather in water.) 



1. Saponaria vaccaria Linn. Cow Herb lE/T^laif (Wang Pu Liu Hsing: The-Em- 

 peror-cannot-detain-it-on-the-way)* (G.M.635). Erect herb, to 5 dm.; fls. pink, 

 IV-V; calyx wing-angled in fr. Introduced from Europe; locally in An., Ku. 

 Field weed. *A powerful laxative. Fig. 97. 



7. Silene Linn. Catchfly icM^M (Nu Lii Ts'ai Shu) 



Herbs with pink, red, or white fls.: calyx 10- or more-nerved, more or less 

 inflated, without bracts at the base; stamens 10; styles generally 5: pod dehiscent 

 by apical teeth. About 250 species, widely distributed; 5 or more in China. (Greek: 

 sailon, saliva; or Silcnus, the slavering drunken demigod, referring to the viscid 

 secretions of many species; note the English name, "Catchfly".) 



Key to the Species 



a. Calyx many-ribbed, conical, glandular-hairy; petals pink 1. S. conoidea 



aa. Calyx ribs about 10. 



b. Calyx club-shaped, 1.5-3 cm. long. 



Calyx about 1.5 cm. long; petals pink, emarginate 2. S. armeria 



Calyx about 3 cm. long; petals white, fimbriate 3. S. fortunei 



bb. Calyx cylindric, 1-1.5 cm. long. 



Calyx not over 1 cm. long; petals white 4. S. aprica 



Calyx about 1.5 cm. long; petals pink 5. <S. pendula 



1. Silene conoidea Linn. (H.F.I: 218). Erect herb, 6-8 dm. high; fls. pink, V. 

 Eurasia, North Africa; locally in Ku. Grassland. Fig. 98. 



2. Silene armeria Linn. Sweet William Catchfly fffjU-H^t (Pu Ch'ung Ch'ii Mai) 

 (G.M.633). Herb; fls. pink, V-VI. Introduced from southern Europe; locally in 

 An., Ku. Cultivated, ornamental. 



3. Silene fortunei Vis. m£~r'£ (Yeh Wen Tz'ti Ts'ao; Wild Mosquito Herb) 

 (B.H.684). Erect herb, 8-10 dm. high; fls. white, VII-VIII. China; locally in 

 An., Che., Hup., Ki., Ku. Grassland. 



4. Silene aprica Turcz. ±MM (Nu Lii Ts'ai; Female Artemisia) (Ko. & Kl. 497). 

 Erect herb, to 5 dm.; fls. white, V-VII. Northeastern Asia; locally in An., Ku. 

 Grassland. 



5. Silene pendula Linn. Nodding Catchfly ^cH^Sli (Ta Man Ying Ts'ao; Great 

 Spreading Primrose) (G.M.634). Brg. herb, to 3 dm.; fls. pink, IV-V; petals 

 2-parted, crowned. Mediterranean region; locally in Ku. Cultivated, orna- 

 mental. 



8. Lychnis Linn. Campion j^HUM (Chien Hsia Lo Shu) 



Erect slender herbs, similar to Silene, but with 5 (rarely 4) styles. About 40 

 species, native to north temperate and arctic regions, some grown for their fls. ; 5 in 

 China. (Greek: luchnos, a light or lamp, referring to the flame-colored fls. of some 

 species.) 



Key to the Species 



Plant glabrous, or nearly so: lvs. ovate: fls. sessile 1. L. coronata 



Plant hairy : lvs. lanceolate, much reduced above or on the fl. -bearing brs.: 



fls. pedicelled 2. L. senno 



111 



