JUNE. 219 
DECANDRIA. TRIGYNIA. 
THALAMIFLORZ. CARYOPHYLLACEZ. 
SILENE. (CatcHrty.) 
Generic Character. Calyx of one piece, five-toothed, but tubu- 
lar, often inflated and swollen. Petals five, witha claw. Stalks 
- In some species sticky. 
There are eleven species, but some of them rare. 
SILENE INFLATA. (Plate XIII. Fig. 49.) Bladder Campion. 
This species derives its name from the inflated appearance 
of the calyx, which is an exceedingly pretty object. Whole 
plant smooth, stem erect, leaves ovate and long. Flowers 
pure white, and numerous, petals deeply divided. The young 
shoots were formerly gathered as a vegetable, and have a 
strong smell of green peas. In the islands of the Mediter- 
ranean it is commonly brought to table, and in several 
instances, where famine threatened the inhabitants, they 
have been saved from starvation by this plant. 
SILENE aNGLICA. Lnglish Catchfly. Found in sandy 
and gravelly fields, principally in the southern countries. 
Flowers solitary, generally proceeding from the leaf where it 
joins the stalks. Petals small, mostly white, sometimes with 
a faint tinge of red in the middle. Calyx rough with hairs ; 
stalk sticky, whence the English name of Catchfly. 
