48 CARYOPHYLLACE^. (piNK FAMILY.) 



1. S. rubra, Pers. — Sands or marshes along the coast, Florida and north, 

 ward. April and May. f" , — Stems prostrate, much branched. Leaves linear, 

 longer than the joints. Seed with or without a membranaceous margin. 



6. SPERGUIiA, L. Sfukrev. 



Sepals 5. Petals 5, entire. Stamens 5 or 10. Styles 5. Capsnle 5-valved, 

 tlie valves opposite the sepals. Embryo forming a ring around tl«; albumen. — 

 Leaves whorled. Flowers cymose, white. 



1. S. arvensis, L. Stem erect; leaves fleshy, narrow-linear, several in a 

 whorl; cyme loose, long-pcduncled ; fruiting pedicels reflexed ; stamens 10; 

 seeds ixjugh. — Cultivated fields, Florida and northward : introduced. (J) . 



7. POLYCARPON, L. 



Sepals 5, carinate. Petals 5, emarginatc, shorter than the sejmls. Stamens 

 3 - .5. Styles .3, very short. Capsnle 3-valved. — Low annuals, with whorled 

 leaves, and minute flowers, in terminal cymes. 



1- P. tetraphyllura, L. Stems (3'- 6') forking, diffuse; leaves spatu- 

 late-obovate, tlie lower ones 4 in a whorl, the npper opposite ; sepals acute ; 

 stii>ules conspicuous. — Near Charleston. Introduced. May and June. 



8. MOLLUGO, L. 



Sepals 5. Petals none. Stamens 5 and altemate with the sepals, or 3 and 

 alternate with the cells of the ovary. Styles 3, short. Capsule 3-valved, 3-celled, 

 many-seeded. — Prostrate diffusely-branched annuals. Leaves whorled. Flow- 

 ers white, on slender axillary jKsduncles. 



I . M. verticillata, L. Smooth ; leaves spatnlate-lanceolate, unequal, in 

 whorls of 4-8; fiuiting peduncles reflexed; stamens 3. — Cultivated ground, 

 common. Introduced. May -August. 



9. SAGINA, L. 



Sepals 4 -5. Petals 4-5, entire, or wanting. Stamens 4-10. Styles 4 -5, 

 alternate with the sepals.' Capsule 4 - 5-valved ; the valves entire, opposite the 

 sepals. — Small herbs, with filiform forking stems, subulate leaves, and solitary 

 flowers. 



1. S. EUiottii, Fenzl. Smooth; stems erect or ascending, tufted ; pedun- 

 cles erect ; petals and sepals 5, equal, obtuse; stamens 10. (Spergula decum- 

 hens, E/l.) — Damp cultivated ground, common. April -June. ('. — Stems 

 2' -6' high. Peduncles 2-3 times as long as the sharp-pointed leaves. 



10. ALSINE, Tonrn. 



Sepals 5. Petals 5. Stamens 10. Styles 3. Capsule I-celled, 3-valved, the 

 valves entire, opposite the inner sepals. — Low slender herbs, wxdi linear or sub- 

 ulate leaves, and white cymose or solitary flowers. 



