156 



Affinities. It is remarked by DecandoUe, that these are intermediate, 

 as it were, between Caryophylleae, Malvaceae, and Geraniaceae, from all which, 

 however, they are obviously distinguished. 



Geography. Europe and the north of Africa are the principal stations 

 of this order, which is, however, scattered more or less over most parts of the 

 globe. Several are natives of North and South America, 2 only are found 

 in India, 1 in New Zealand, and none in New Holland ; for the L. angus- 

 tifolium mentioned by DecandoUe as having been sent him from that country, 

 had probably, as he suggests, been introduced from Europe. It is stated by 

 Dr. Richardson, that the most northern limit of this order in North America 

 is 54° N. Ed. P. J. 12. 209. 



Properties. The tenacity of their fibre, and the mucilage of their 

 diuretic seeds, are the striking characters of Linese, which are also usually 

 remarkable for the beauty of their flowers. The leaves of L. catharticum 

 are purgative. Linum selaginoides is considered in Peru bitter and ape- 

 rient. Dec. 



Examples. Linum, Radiola. » 



CXL. CARYOPHYLLEiE. The Chickweed Tribe. 



Caryophylle^, Juss. Gen. 299. (1789); Dec. Prodr. 1. 351. (1824); Lindl. Symps. 



p. 43. (1829). 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with definite hypogynous sta- 

 mens, concrete carpella, an ovarium of 1 or several cells with placentse in 

 the axis, an imbricated calyx, symmetrical flowers, an embryo coiled round 

 mealy albumen, and opposite entire leaves with herbaceous stems. 



Anomalies. Some are apetalous; others are accidently unsymmetrical 

 in their fructification. 



Essential Character. — Sepals 4-5, continuous with the peduncle ; either distinct, 

 or cohering in a tube, persistent. Petals 4-5, hypogynous, unguiculate, inserted upon the 

 pedicel of the ovarium ; occasionally wanting. Stamens twice as many as the petals, in- 

 serted upon the pedicel of the ovarium along with the petals ; Jilaments suliulate, sometimes 

 monadelphous ; anthers innate. Ovarium stipitate on the apex of a pedicel (called the 

 gjTiophonis) ; stiymata 2-5, sessile, filiform, papillose on the inner surface. Capsule 

 2-5-valved, either 1 -celled or 2-5-celled, in the latter case with a loculicidal dehiscence. 

 Placenta centraX, in the 1 -celled capsules distinct, in the 2-5- celled capsules adhering to 

 the edge of the dissepiments. Seeds indefinite in number, rarely definite ; albumen mealy ; 



embryo curved round the albumen; radicle pointing to tlic hilum Herbaceous plants, 



occasionally becoming snffrutescent. Stems tumid at the articulations. Leaves always 

 opposite and entire, often connate at the base. 



Affinities. On the one hand these plants are allied to Frankeniacea^, 

 with which they agree in their unguiculate petals, bearing processes at their 

 orifice, and in some measure in habit ; and on the other to Lincce, from 

 which they are principally distinguished by their unilocular, or, if plurilo- 

 cular, several-seeded capsules, and albuminous seeds. Geraniaceae, Oxali- 

 desc, Violaceae, and Portulacea?, are all also allied in many particulars, but 

 they are readily distinguished. Elatinetc differ in their exalbuminous seeds 

 and capitate stigmas. Bartling combines in one order Caryophyllcaj, Paro- 

 nychiae, Amarantaceiu, Phytolacceae, and Chenopodeae ; and all these orders, 

 although artificially separated widely, do in fact concur in a number of 

 essential points; but the rest may be readily known from Caryophylleae by 

 their want of petals ; their combining character is the embryo curved round 

 the albumen, in which particular Polygoneac also agrees with them, Macr.ra, 

 a genus of mine, whicii Mr. Don states to be the same as Viviania, a neglected 



