CARYOPIIYLLACEiE. (l'INK FAMILY.) 51 



14. SILENE, L. Catchfly. 



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 1-celled, or 3-cellcd at the base, opening 

 by 6 teeth, many-seeded. — Leaves mostly connate. Flowers cymose, often 

 showy. 



* Perennials : flowers showy. 

 +- Petals gash-Jimbriate, crownless. 



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. Junc- 

 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, 

 2° -4° high. 



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. — Stems 6'- 12' high. Leaves thin. Flowers 2' wide. 



-*- -i- Petals emarginate or 2-cleft, crowned. 



4. S. 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 l°-2° high. 

 Flowers 1' wide. 



5. S. regia, Sims. Viscid-pubescent and roughish ; stem tall (3° -4°) and 

 erect, branched ; leaves ovate-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 oblanceolate, 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. 

 June - August. — Stems 2° long. Flowers showy. 



7. S. Pennsylvanica, Michx. Clammy-pubescent; stems low, clus- 

 tered ; lowest leaves spatulate-obovate, the upper lance-oblong, mostly obtuse ; 

 cymes dense-flowered; calyx club-shaped, erect; petals white or rose-color, ob- 

 ovate, emarginate or entire. — Rocky hills, chiefly in the upper districts and 

 northward. March and April. — Stems 6 r - 12' high- 



