48 CAUYOI'HYLLACK.E. (I'INK FAMILY.) 



1- S. rubra, IVrs. — Samls or marshes nlonj^ the roast, Florirhi aiul imrth- 

 Wiinl. April and May. (l — Stems j)rostratc, much branched. Leaves linear, 

 longer tliau the joints. Seed witii or without a membranaceous margin. 



6. SPEKGULA, L. Siiikuky. 



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

 the valves opposite tiie sepals. Embryo forming a ring around the 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 refle.xed ; stamens 10; 

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



7. POLYCARPON, L. 



Sepals 5, carinate. I'ctals 5, emarginate, shorter than the sepals. Stamens 

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

 leaves, and minute flowers, in termiiuxl cymes. 



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

 late-obovatc, tlie 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-celled, 

 many-seeded. — Prostrate diffusely-branched annuals. Leaves whorled. I'low- 

 crs white, on slender axillary peduncles. 



1 • M. verticillata, L. Smooth ; leaves spatulatc-lanceolatc, uneijual, in 

 whorls of 4-8 ; fruiting peduncles re flexed ; 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, o|)posite 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 ; jtetals and sepals 5, equal, obtuse ; stamens 10. (Spergula decum- 

 hcns, Ji/l.) — Damp cultivated ground, common. April- June. (I — Stems 

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



10. ALSINE, Tourn. 



Sepals 5. Petals 5. Stamens 10. Styles 3. Capsule 1-celled, 3-valved, the 

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

 ulate leaves, and white cymose or solitary flowers. 



