CARYOPHYLLACE^. 47 



1. S. Vaccana lAnn. : leaves ovate-lanceolate, sessile; flowers in pan- 

 icles ; calyx pyramidal, 5-angIed, smooth ; bracts membranaceous, acute. 



Cultivated grounds. Mass. and N. Y. ; rare. July, Aug. (1). — Stem 1 — 2 

 feet high. Flowers rose-colored. Introduced from Europe. Field Soapu}ort. 



2. >S. officinalis Linn. : leaves ovate-lanceolate, ribbed, acute or obtuse ; 

 flowers large, in a fasciculate panicle ; calyx cylindrical ; appendages of 

 the petals linear. 



Road sides. N. Y. to Geor. June — Sept. TJ.. — Stem 12 — 18 inches high. 

 Leaves opposite and connate. Flowers large, rose-colored. It is said to make a 

 lather with water, and hence its common name. Introduced from Europe. 



Common Soapwort. 



4. AGROSTEMMA. Linn.—RosQ Campion. 



(From the Greek aypn arefjina, crown of the field, quite applicable to this species.) 



Calyx tubular, 5-sid.ed, coriaceous. Petals 5, unguiculate, 

 not crowned; limb entire. Capsule 1 -celled, opening with 5 

 teeth. 



A. Githago Linn. : hairy ; leaves opposite, linear-lanceolate ; segments 

 of the calyx much longer than the corolla ; flower solitary, terminal, large ; 

 petals entire, destitute of a crown. Lychnis Githago D. C. Torr. <^ Gr. 



Cultivated grounds. June, July. (^.—Stem 18—20 inches high. Flowers 

 large, purple, not crowned, on long peduncles. Introduced from Europe. 



Com CocUe. 



5. SAGINA. iwTt.— Pearlwort. 



(The name signifying meat which fattens, is applicable to any of the minute 

 plants of this genus.) 



Sepals 3 — 5, united at base. Petals 4 — 5, or more. Sta- 

 mens 4 — 10. Styles 4 — 5. Capsule 4 — 5-valved, 1-celled, 

 many-seeded. 



1 . S. procumbens Linn. : perennial ; stems procumbent, smooth, branched ; 

 leaves linear-mucronate ; petals much shorter than the calyx. 



Borders of streams. N. Y. to Car. and W. to the banks of the Columbia river. 

 May — ^July. %. — Stems 2 — 4 inches long, diffuse and rooting at the lower joints. 

 Lower leaves connate. Peduncles solitary, longer than the leaves. Flowers 

 small, white, at first drooping. Procumbent Pearlwort. 



2. S. apelala Linn. : annual ; stems erect or procumbent only at base, 

 subpubescent ; leaves subulate ; flowers alternate ; petals 4, very minute oi 

 none. 



Sandy fields. N. Y. to Md. May, June. (!)• — Stem^ numerotis, erect, fiU- 

 form. Leaves narrower and more bristle-pointed than in the preceding. Flowers 

 on long slender peduncles. Petals, according to Mr. WUson, (Hook. Br. Fl.) 

 always present, but if so, they must be exceedingly minute. 



Annual Pearlwort. 



6. MOLLUGO. Linn. — Indian Chickweed. 



(Supposed to be from Galium MoUugo, to which this plant bears some re- 

 semblance.) 



Sepals 5, united at base. Petals none. Stamens 3 — 5. 

 Styles 3. Capsule 3-valved, 3 -celled, many-seeded. 



