CARYOPHYLLACEX. (PINK FAMILY.) 51 
14. SILENE, L. Carcurty. 
Sepals united into a 5-toothed tube. Petals 5, long-clawed, inserted with the 
10 stamens on the stipe of the ovary, commonly crowned with two scales at the 
base of the limb. Styles 3. Capsule l-celled, or 3-celled at the base, opening 
by 6 teeth, many-seeded. — Leaves mostly connate. Flowers cymose, often 
showy. 
* Perennials: flowers showy. 
+ Petals gash-fimbriate, erownless. 
1. S. stellata, Ait. Leaves in whorls of four, lance-ovate, acuminate, 
the uppermost opposite ; flowers white, in a large spreading panicle ; calyx in- 
flated, bell-shaped. — Dry woods in the upper districts, and northward. June-- 
August. — Stems 2°-3° high, downy, branching above. 
2. S. ovata, Pursh. Rough-pubescent; leaves large (4'-5/), opposite, 
oblong-ovate, acuminate; flowers white, in a contracted lanceolate panicle ; 
calyx tubular. — Mountains of Georgia and Carolina. July. — Stems stout, 
29-49 high. à 
3. S. Baldwinii, Nutt Villous; stems low, slender, bearing runners at 
the creeping base; leaves opposite, spatulate; the upper ones oblong, sessile ; 
cymes few-flowered ; flowers very large, white or pale rose-color, on slender ped- 
icels ; calyx tubular. — Low shady woods, Georgia and Florida. April and 
May. — St | 6/— 12! high. Leaves thin. Flowe s 9! y Had ars Died ier A 
: + + Petals emarginate or 2-cleft, crowned. 
4. B. Virginica, L. Clammy-pubescent ; leaves abruptly pointed, the low- 
est ones clustered, spatulate-obovate, on fringed petioles, the upper small, remote, 
lanceolate, sessile ; cymes loosely few-flowered ; calyx tubular-club-shaped, ob- 
long and nodding in fruit; petals crimson, lanceolate, 2-cleft. — Rich open 
woods, chiefly in the upper districts. June and July. — Stems 19—29 high. 
Flowers 1/ wide. a 
5. S. regia, Sims. Viscid-pubescent and roughish ; stem tall (39 - 49) and 
erect, branched; leaves qvate-lanceolate, the upper ones acuminate; flowers 
large, bright scarlet, short-stalked, clustered and forming a strict panicle ; calyx 
long, cylindrical, striate, dilated in fruit; petals oblanccolate, generally entire; - 
stamens and style exserted. — Prairies of Alabama and westward. July. 
6. S. rotundifolia, Nutt. Hairy and viscid; stems weak, decumbent, 
branched ; leaves thin, roundish, abruptly acuminate at each end, the lowest 
obovate; flowers few, large, bright scarlet; calyx cylindrical; petals 2-cleft, — 
with the lobes cut-toothed. — Shady rocky banks, Tennessee and northward. pus 
June- August. — Stems 2? long. Flowers showy. — ciii 
