157 



genus of Cavanilles (see Jameson's Joui-nal, Jan. 1830, p. 170.), if really 

 belonging to the order, differs remarkably in the curved embryo lying, ac- 

 cording to Dr. Hooker, in the midst of fleshy albumen, in its dry persistent 

 petals, and in the vernation of both the calyx and petals ; but I incline to 

 think that this remarkable genus indicates the existence of an order allied 

 to Frankeniacese or Geraniaceee more closely than to Caryophyllese. Hy- 

 dropityon, doubtfully referred here by Decandolle, belongs to Scrophula- 

 rinese, as I learn from Mr. Bentham. 



Geography. Natives principally of the temperate and frigid parts of 

 the world, where they inhabit mountains, hedges, rocks, and waste places. 

 Those which are found within the tropics are usually natives of high eleva- 

 tions and mountainous tracts, almost always reaching the limits of eternal 

 snow, where many of them exclusively vegetate. The Mollugos are the most 

 tropical form of the order. A little plant, called Physa, is found in Ma- 

 dagascar ; and some Silenes are scattered in many different parts of the 

 globe. According to the calculations of Humboldt, Caryophyllese constitute 

 tAt of the flowering plants of France, -jL. of Germany, -jL. of Lapland, ^ of 

 North America. 



Properties. Remarkable for little except their uniform insipidity. A 

 (evf, such as the Dianthuses and Lychnises, are handsome flowers ; but the 

 greater part are mere weeds. Saponaria officinalis, Gypsophila Ostruthium, 

 Lychnis dioica, and L. chalcedonica, have saponaceous properties : Sapona- 

 ria has been used in syphilis. Arenaria peploides, having been fermented, is 

 used in Iceland as a sort of food. A decoction of the root of Silene virginica 

 is said to have been employed in North America as anthelmintic. Dec. 



Decandolle admits two sections (Frodr. 1.) 



1. SiLENEjE. 



Sepals united in a cylindrical tube. 

 Examples. Lychnis, Dianthus. 



2. Alsine.i;. Dec. Fl. Franc. 4. 766. 

 Sepals distinct, or only cohering at the base. 

 Examples. Stellaria, Alsine. 



CXLI. FRANKENIACEiE. 



FrankeniacejIE, Atig. St. Hilaire Mim. Plac. Centr. 39. (1815) ; Dec, Prodr. 1, 349. 

 (1824) ; Lindl. Synops. 38. (1829). 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with definite hypogynous sta- 

 mens, concrete carpella, a 1 -celled ovarium with narrow parietal placentae, 

 5 connate sepals, an erect embryo, exstipulate leaves, and a capsule with 

 septicidal dehiscence. 



Anomalies. None, if Luxemburgia be excluded. 



Essential Character — Sepals 4-5, united in a furrowed tube, persistent, equal. 

 Petals alternate with the sepals, hypogynous, unguiculate, with appendages at the base 

 of the limb. Stamens hypogjTious, either equal in number to the petals, and alternate 

 with them, or having a tendency to double the number; anthers roundish, versatile. 

 Oyarn^m superior ; style filiform, 2-fid or 3-fid. Capsule 1-celled, enclosed in the calyx, 

 2- 3- or 4-valved, many-seeded ; dehiscence septicidal. Seeds attached to the margins 

 of the valves, very minute ; embryo straight, erect, in the midst of albumen (divided into 

 two plates, Gcerin. Jil.) — Herbaceous plants or under-shrubs. Stems very much branched. 

 Leaves opposite, exstipulate, with a membranous sheathing base ; often revolute at the 

 edge. Flowers sessile in the divisions of the branches, and terminal, embosomed in leaves, 

 usually pink. 



Affinities. Allied on the one hand to Caryophylleae, from which 



