522 SILENE. LCLASS X. ORDER III. 



smooth, of one ceil, and opening at the apex with four broadish 

 lanceolate teeth. Seeds numerous, roundish, kidney -shaped. 



Habitat. — Hedges, road sides, and banks of rivers; not uncommon. 



Perennial; flowering in August and September. 



Soapwort is so called from the decoction of the plant producing, 

 when agitated, a lather, as though it was a solution of soap ; and it is 

 declared by some persons to be possessed of the same qualities as soap, 

 and that it was used by the mendicant Monks for washing their 

 clothes. The whole plant is bitter, and was formerly supposed to 

 possess considerable medicinal properties, and has been used for the 

 cure of the itch, gout, rheumatism, and jaundice; but it is not now 

 trusted to except by the vender of herbs, and the household doctress. 



For a border flower Soapwort, though pretty and showy, is not very 

 well fitted, as its underground stems widely extend, and become 

 troublesome ; but by cultivation the stamens are expanded into petals, 

 and then it is considered a very handsome flower. 



ORDER III. 



TRIGYN'IA. 3 Pistils. 



GENUS XI. SILE'NE.— Linn. Catchfly, 



Nat. Ord. Caryophyl'le^. Juss. 



Gen. Char. Calyx tubular often ventricose, five toothed, naked at 



the base. Petals five, clawed, mostly having scales at the mouth, 



and generally notched or bifid. Stamens ten. Stigmas three. 



Capsules three celled at the base, bursting at the apex with six 



teeth. — Name supposed to be derived from <riaXov, saliva ; in 



allusion to the viscid moisture which is secreted on the stalks of 



many species, or it is a poetical name after the god Silenus, who 



is represented as being always drunk, and covered with saliva, as 



some of the species of this genus are with a viscid secretion. 



Sect. 1. Nanosilene. Otth. De Cand. Prod. p. 1, p. 367. Tufted, 



Stem very short. Peduncles single Jlowered. Calyx sub inflated . 



1. jS. acau'lis, Linn. (Fig. 707.) Moss Campion. Stem densely 



ccespitose; leaves linear, ciliated at the base ; flowers terminal, solitary ; 



peduncles and calyx smooth ; calyx campanulate ; petals obovate or 



obcordate, crowned, rose coloured. 



English Botany, t. 1081.— English Flora, vol. ii. p. 299.— Hooker, 

 British Flora, vol. i. p. 204. — Lindley, Synopsis, p. 46. 

 /3. alba. Flowers white. 



