48 CARYOPHYLLACE^E. (PINK FAMILY.) 



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

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

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



6. SPERGULA, L. Smjkkey. 



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

 the valves opposite the sepals. Embryo forming a ring around the albumen. — 

 Leaves whorlcd. Flowers cymosc, white. 



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

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

 seeds rough. — Cultivated fields, Florida and northward : introduced. (1). 



7. POLYCARPON, L. 



Sepals 5, carinatc. Petals 5, emarginate, shorter than the sepals. Stamens 

 3 - 5. Styles 3, very short. Capsule 3-valved. — Low annuals, with whorlcd 

 leaves, and minute flowers, in terminal cymes. 



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

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

 stipules conspicuous. — Near Charleston. Introduced. May and June. 



8. MOLLUGO, L. 



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

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

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

 ers white, on slender axillary peduncles. 



1 • M. verticillata, L. Smooth ; leaves spatulate-lanceolate, unequal, in 

 whorls of 4 — 8; fruiting peduncles reflcxed; 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. 



l. S. Elliottii, Fenzl. Smooth; Btems erect or ascending, tufted ; pedun- 

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



bin,, /•;//.)_ Damp cultivated ground, common. April-June. (1^ — Su-in^ 

 2'-C high. Peduuclcs 2-3 times as long as the sharp-pointed leaves. 



10. ALSINE, Touro. 



Sepals 5. Petals 5. Stamens 10 Styles 8. Capsule 1-celled, 8-valred, the 

 ralres entire, opposite the inner sepals. — J.<>w slender herbs, with linear or sub- 

 ulate haves, and white cymose or solitary Bowers< 



