190 XXIIl. CARYOPHYLLACE^. Silene. 



Stems numerous, filiform, 2 — 4' high. Sepals acute, shorter than the capsule. 

 May Jn. 



6. MOLLtJGO. 

 Calyx of 5 sepals, inferior, united at base, colored inside ; corolla 

 ; stamens 5, sometimes 3 or 10 ; filaments setaceous, shorter than, 

 and opposite to the sepals ; anthers simple ; capsule 3-celled, 3-valved, 

 many-seeded ; seeds reniform. — Lvs. at length apparently verticillaie, 

 each ivhorl consisting of \ or 2 large, substipulate leaves, loith several 

 axillary, smaller ones. 



M. VERTiciLLATA. Carpet-wccd. 



Lvs. cuneiform, acute ; st. depressed, branched ; pedicels 1-flowered, sub- 

 umbellate ; sta. mostly but 3. — (p A small, prostrate plant, in dry places through- 

 out N. Am. Stems slender, jointed, branched, lying flat upon the ground. At 

 every joint stands a whorl of wedge-shaped or spatulate leaves of unequal size, 

 usually five in number, and a few flowers, each on a solitary stalk which is 

 very slender and shorter than the petioles. Flowers small, wMte. Jl, — Sep. 



Tribe 2.— SILEXE^. 



Sepals united into a cylindrical tiibe. Petals dawed, inserted with the stamens 

 iipon the stipe of tlic ovary. 



' / 7. SILENE. 

 Sileniis was a drunken divinitj' of the Greeks, covered with slaver, as these plants are with a viscid secretion. 



Calyx tubular, swelling, without scales at base, 5-toothed ; petals 5, 

 unguiculate, often crowned with scales at the mouth, 2-cleft ; stamens 

 10 ; styles 3 ; capsule 3-celled, many-seeded. 



* Calyx vesicular, iv fated; petals scarcely crovnied. 



1. S. ACAULis. Stemless Campion. 



Low and densely casspitose ; lvs. linear, ciliate at base ; ped. solitary, 

 short, 1-flowered; cal. campanulate. slightly inflated; pet. obcordate, crowned. 

 —% A little turfy plant, 1—3' high,' on the White Mts., N. H., and throughout 

 Arctic Am. Stems scarcely any. Leaves numerous, ^' long. Flowers purple. 



2. S. STELLATA. Ait. (Cucubalus stellatus. Linn.') Stellate Campion. 

 Erect, pubescent ; lvs. in whorls of 4s, oval-lanceolate, acuminate ; cal. 



loose and inflated ; pet. fimbriate. — % An elegant plant, woods and prairies, 

 Can. to Car., W. to 111. ! and Ark. Stem 2 — 3f high, paniculately cymose. Leaves 

 2 — 3' long, ^ as wide, tapering to a long point, sessile. Cal3'x pale-green, with 

 more deeply colored veins. Petals white, lacerately fringed, claws webbed 

 at base. Jl. 



3. S. NivEA. DC. (Cucubalusniveus. Nuft.) Snowy Campion. 



Minutely puberulent, erect, simple or dichotomous above ; lvs. oblong- 

 lanceolate, acuminate ; Jls. few, terminal ; cal. inflated, with short and obtu.se 

 teeth ; pet. 2-cleft, with a small bifid crown ; caps, stiped. — % in moist places, 

 Penn., Ohio, near Cincinnati, {Clark \) 111. Stem .slender, lealy. H — 3f high, 

 generally forked near the top. Leaves 2 — 3' by J — f ', tapering to a very slender 

 point, floral ones lance-ovate. Flowers 1 — 3. Calyx reticulated. Petals white. 



4. S. iNFLATA. Smith. (Cucubalus Behen. Linn.) Bladder Campion. 

 Glabrous and glaucous ; lvs. ovate-lanceolate ; fls. in cymose panicles, 



drooping ; cal. ovoid-globular, reticulated with veins. — % in pastures about 

 fences, Charle.stown, Ms. ! &c. Stem erect, about 2f high. Leaves U — 3' long, 

 J as wide, rather acuminate. Petals white, cleft half-way down. Calyx re- 

 markably inflated, and reticulated with pale purple veins. Jl. — The young 

 shoots and leaves may be used as a substitute for asparagus. 

 ** Calyx not inflated. Petals crowned. 



5. S. ANTiRRniNA. Snap-dragon Catch-fly. 



Nearly .smooth ; .t/'. erect; lvs. lanceolate, acute, .sub-ciliate; ped. trifid. 



