108 CLASS DKCANDRlA. 



The 5 petals are conspicuously unguiculate. The 

 capsule cylindric, and 1-celled. From this genus 

 that of Saponaria differs in having a similar calyx 

 naked at the base. 



The Sclevanthus annum, a common, small, incon- 

 spicuous annual in sandy wastes, belongs to the same 

 natural family as the Pink, but has no corolla, and a 

 campanulate, greenish calyx of 1 leaf, with 5 clefts. 

 The stamina are inserted into the calyx ; and the cap- 

 sule, containing only 1 seed, is covered by the calyx. 



In the third order, or Trigynia, of the tenth class 

 you will find the genus Silene, belonging to the same 

 natural order with the Pink, and bearing a similar flow- 

 er, but distinguishable, at once, by its naked, 1 -leaved, 

 tubular or conic calyx, 5-tooihed at the summit, hav- 

 ing a capsule of 3 cells, containing many seeds, and 

 opening at the summit by 6 teeth. The clawed pe- 

 tals are also mostly crowned at the base of the border 

 with a small cleft process. One of the prettiest vernal 

 flowering species is the S. pennsylvanica, and so far 

 from being peculiar to that state which gives its spe- 

 cific name, it is not uncommon from Florida to Cana- 

 da. It forms a low tuft, sending up from its cluster 

 of wedge-shaped root leaves, many low stems, termin- 

 ating in trichotomous or 3-forked panicles of pale red 

 or pink flowers, having the petals a little emarginated 

 or notched, and somewhat crenated along the whole 

 margin. The S. virginica, which grows in rocky and 

 shady woods as far north as the western parts of Penn- 

 sylvania, has weak, forked branches ; and panicles 

 with bifid petals, and exserted stamens; this species 

 has deep scarlet flowers of great beauty. The Cu- 

 cubalus is a mere section of this genus, distinguished 

 by its roundish and inflated calyx. The most com- 

 mon species is the S. behen or Campion ; it is smooth 

 and glaucous, with decumbent or trailing stems ; acute. 



