CARyOPHYLLACEjE. 65 SILENE. 



Tribe 2, SILENE7E. 



Sepals united into a. cylindrical tube. Petals clawed, inserted icilh the stamens 

 upon the stipe of the ovary. 



7 . S I L E' N E . 

 Caljx tubular, swelHri^^j, williout scales at the base, 5-tootl)- 

 ed ; petals 5, ungiiiculate, often crowned with scales at the 

 month, 2-cleft; stamens 10; stylesS; capsule 3-celled, many- 

 seeded. 



Named after the god Silenus of the Latins, whom their poets represent as 

 always drunk, and covered with slaver, as the species of this genus usually 

 are with a viscid secretion. Five alternate stamens are attached to the petals, 

 and later than the rest. 



1. S. Pennsylva'nica. 



Viscid-pubescent; stems numerous; leaves from the root spathulate or cu- 

 ■neate,of the stem lanceolate: ciimc few-flowered; j^etv/s slightly emarginate, 

 suh-crenate. Grows in dry, sandy soils. Stem decumbent at base, nearly a 

 foot high, witli long, lanceolate leaves, and terminal, upriuht bunches of flow- 

 ers. Caly.x long, lubular, very glutinous and hairy. Petals wedge-shaped, 

 red or purplish. Jn. Fur. Cu'c'i-Jhj. li'iidFin/c. 



2. S. Antirrhi'na. 



Nearly smooth ; stem, erect ; leaves lanceolate, acute, aub-ciliate ; peduvcJes 

 trifid, 3-flowered ; pe?a/s emarginate ; calijx o\&\.e. Stem sleijder, branching, 

 with opposite leaves and about a foot in height. Leaves ai)Out 2 inches long, 

 the upper ones very narrow, all sessile, and scabrous on the margin. A few 

 •of the upper internodes are vtsf'idly pubescent above their middle. Flowers 

 small, red, in loose, erect cymes. Road sides and dry soils. Jl. Per. 



Snap-drugon Caich-Jli/. 



3. S. Virgi'nica. 



Viscid-pubescent; slcin procumbent or erect, branching; fmcers large, 

 cymose ; calyx large, clavate; petals bifid, broad, crowned. From 12 to 18 

 inches high. Leaves oblong, a little rougli at the margin. Cymes dichoto- 

 mous. Stamens and pistils exsert. Petals red, large. Jn. Per. 



Virginian Catch-ftj. 



4. S. NOCTIFLO'UA. 



Viscid-pubescent; stem erect, branching; low-er leaves s]iathulate, upper 

 leaves linear ; cali/x C3'lindrical, ventricose, the alternate stria; vined; tcetk 

 subulate, very long; petals 2-parled. From Europe, introduced into our cul- 

 tivated erouuds. Flowers rather large, white, e.xpanding only in the evening 

 and in cloudy weather. jXighi-Jlowcring Cuich-jiij. 



5. S. STELLA'TA. ^it. Cucubalus stcllatus. L. 



Erect, pubescent ; leaves in whorls of 4s, oval-lanceolate, acuminate. Stem 

 2 — 3 feet high, with paniculate cymes of white flowers. At each of the dis- 

 tant, tumid nodes, is a whorl of sessile, spreading, long-pointed leaves. Petals 

 wanting the crown of scales. Calyx not reticulated, the segments tapering 

 loamucronate point. Woods, JL Per. ' Star-like Cainpion. 



F* 



