THE PINK FAMILY, 



105 



flower has five pointed sepals, five pointed petals, ten 

 stamens, and a pistil with three styles. One variety 

 when growing in very wet places is much less hairy 

 than those growing in dry spots. It is found every- 

 where in salt, damp ground near the seashore, 

 throughout the Colony. The seeds 

 are round, flat, and smooth, with a 

 broad, white, marginal wing. 



The last two plants illustrate 

 very well the prevailing type of 

 Inflorescence in this family. It is 

 definite in kind, in that the main 

 peduncle " ends " in a flower. When 

 an inflorescence does not do so, it 

 is called indefinite ; and the particu- 

 lar form in plants of the order 

 Caryopliyllece is called a " cyme " ^ 

 (Fig. 38). It is also said to be 

 dichotomous, i.e. " twice-cut," or forking, as we say. It 

 will be seen that the lowest flower, now in fruit, termi- 

 nates the primary peduncle. Then from two opposite 

 bracts, secondary peduncles arise, each terminated by 

 a pedicel with its flower. Hence the order of blossom- 

 ing may be represented thus : 4, 3, 4, 2, 4, 3, 4, 1, 4, 3, 

 4, 2, 4, 3, 4. 



Fig. 38.— Dichotomous 

 cyme of Ceras'tium. 



* From the Greek kuma. " a wave ; " but the connection is not 

 clear. 



