caryophvllace^. 67 dianthus. 



9. SAPONA'RIA. 



Calyx tubular, naked ; petals 5, clawed ; stamens 10 ; styles 

 2; capsule oblong, 1-celled. 



Lat. sapo, soap ; the mucillacrinous juice is said to make soap. Cal. inferior, 

 5-toothed. Claws long as caF. Limb dilated toward the end. Fil. long as 

 •cal. and styles. Stig. acute, downy. Caps, concealed in the calyx. 



S. officina'lis. 



Cahjx cylindrical ; hates lanceolate, Inclining to elliptical. A hardy, smooth 

 and suculent plant, with handsome flowers resembling the pink, (Dianthus.) 

 Steins 1 or 2 teet high, with opposite leaves, and a terminal panicle of erect, 

 flesh-colored flowersT The taste is bitter, and the juice in water will raise a 

 lather like soap, and will take out spots of grease. Road-sides. Jl. Aug. 

 Per. Introduced and naturalized. Flowers frequently double. 



Common Soap-icort. 



10. D I A' N T H U S . 



Calyx cylindrical, tubular, with scales at base ; petals 5, 

 with long claws; stamens 10; styles 2; capsule cylindric, 

 1-celled. 



Gr. Aio« civ^oi, Jupiter's flower, or the divine flower; so named on ac- 

 count of Its preeminent beauty and fragrance. Cal. inferior, striate, 5-toothed, 

 with 2 or more pairs of opposite, imbricate scales at base. Claws as long as 

 cal. Limb flat, dilated outwards, unequally notched. Fil. as long as calyx. 

 Ova. oval. Sty. longer than stam., with revolute, tapering stig. 



1. D. Arme'ria. 



Florcers aggregate, fascicled; scales of the calyx villose, lanceolate, as long 

 as the tube. ° Our only native species of the pink. In fields and pine woods. 

 Stem a foot high, leafy, pubescent, corymbose above. Leaves opposite, pu- 

 bescent, linear'lanceolate, the lower ones broader, clasping at base. Flowers 

 terminal, small, without fragrance. Petals pink, sprinkled with white, crenate 

 on the margin. Aug. Ann. "'*'''^ Fink. 



2. D. barba'tus. 



Flowers aggregate, fascicled ; scales ovate, subulate, as long as the tube; 

 leaves lanceolate. Long known and valued as an ornamental flower, and is 

 still esteemed, as in the times of old Gerarde, " for its beauty to deck up the 

 bosoms of the beautiful, and garlands and crowns for pleasure." It has many 

 varieties. Flowers in J n., Jl. Per. Sweet William. 



3. D. Chine'nsis. 



Stem branched ; flower solitary ; scales linear, leafy, spreading, as long as 

 the tube ; leaves linear-lanceolate. An elegant species, well characterized by 

 its leafy, spreading scales, and its large, toothed or crenate, red petals. The 

 foliage, like the oUier species, is evergreen, being as abundant and vivid in 

 winter as in summer. Native of China. JL— Sept. Bien. China P ink. 



4. D. pluma'rius. 



Glaucous; s«e7ns 2— 3-flowered ;*jffoz«r5 solitary ; teetlihluni; bracts ov^le, 

 very pointed; leaves linear, rough at the edge; corolla many-cleft, throat 



