190 XXili. CARYOPHYLLACEiE. Silene. 



Stems numerous, filiform, 2 — i' liigh. Sepals acute, shorler than the capsule. 

 May Jn. 



6. MOLLtTGO. 



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

 0; 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 verticillate, 

 each whorl consisting of 1 or 2 largd^ substipulate leaves^ with several 

 axillary^ smaller ones. 



M. VERTiciLLATA. CciTfet-vxed. 



Lvs. cuneiform, acute ; st. depressed, branched ; pedieels 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, white. Jl, — Sep. 



Tribe 2.— SIL.ENEJE. 



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

 ii'pon the stipe of the ovary. 



7. SILENE. 



Silenus was a drunken divinity 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 vesicidar, inflated; petals scarcely crowned. 



1. S. ACAULis. Stcmless Campion. 



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

 short, 1-flowered; cal. c'ampanulate, slightlv inflated; pet. obcordate, crowned. 

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

 Arctic Am. Stems scarcely an)'. Leaves numerous, i' 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. Calyx pale-green, with 

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

 at base. Jl. 



3. S. NivEA. DC. (Cucubalus niveus. Nutt.) Syimcy Campion. 



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

 lanceolate, acuminate ; fis. few, terminal ; cal. inflated, with short and obtuse 

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

 Penn., Ohio, near Cincinnati, (^Clarkl) 111. Stem slender, leafy. 1^— 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. Smitli. (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, Charlestown, Ms. ! &c. Stem erect, about 2f high. Leaves 1^-3' long, 

 A as wide, rather acuminate. Petals white, cleft hall-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 a.sparagus. 

 ** Calyx not inflated. Petals crowned. 



5. S. Antirrhina. Snap-dragon, Catch-fly. 



Nearlv smooth ; st. erect; lvs. lanceolate, acute, sub-ciliate; ped. trifid, 



