290 POPULAR FIELD BOTANY. 
SAPONARIA OFFICINALIS. Common Soapwort. This plant 
derives its names from its making a lather with water, like 
soap, and it is sometimes used for that purpose. It is found 
by road-sides, on the margins of woods, and hedge banks 
about cottages; so that formerly, in all probability, it was 
cultivated by poor people before soap was much used. It 
grows about a foot and a half high, with a stout stem, and 
many rather long leaves, each with three strong nerves. 
The flowers form a cluster at the top, and are numerous, 
large, and rose-coloured; the calyx is very long and 
tubular. 
DECANDRIA. DIGYNIA. 
. THALAMIFLORZ. CARYOPHILLACE, 
DIANTHUS. (Prnk.) 
Generic Character. Calyx tubular, five-toothed, with about 
four opposite scales at the base. Petals five. 
DiantHus ARMERIA. Deptford Pink. Not common, 
but found in waste places. About a foot and a half high, 
branched upwards. Leaves narrow, opposite, rather downy. 
Flowers in a thick cluster, petals rose-colour, with white 
dots, jagged at the edge, scentless. Another species of 
