214 Plants and their Ways in SoutJi Africa 



Dianthus (the carnation genus) differs from Silene in the 

 smooth calyx tube, surrounded at base by several bracts. 

 Styles 2. Herbs with generally grass-like leaves. 



B. Calyx polysepalous. Ovary not raised. 



Spergula, Stellaria, and Cerastium are common 

 spreading weeds found in cultivated places. The flowers are 

 small and often self-fertilized. 



Stellaria media has small white flowers with 2-parted 

 petals. There is a double row of hairs at each internode, 

 which may be for conveying the water off in drying the plant, 

 or they may absorb the water that runs down the stem. 



Order Ranunculace^. 



Sepals 3-20, mostly 5, usually deciduous. Petals 5-15 or 

 wanting. Stamens and carpels many, stamens ripening first. 

 Flowers visited by various insects. Leaves alternate, except in 

 Clematis, with broad sheathing bases. Herbs or twining 

 shrubs, mostly perennial, with rhizomes. Each year's shoot 

 ends in an inflorescence. 



A. Climbing shrubs with opposite leaves. 



Clematis. — Sepals valvate, 4-8. Carpels with feathery tails. 



B. Erect herbs with alternate or radical leaves. 

 * vSepals coloured. Petals none. 



Thalictram, — Sepals 4-5, shorter than stamens. Carpels without 



tails. 

 Anemone. — Sepals many, longer than the stamens. Carpels tailed. 

 ** Sepals green. Petals present. 



Knowltonia. — Sepals 5. Petals many. Carpels juicy. 

 Banunculus. — Sepals 3-5. Petals 5-10, each with a honey scale 



at the base. 



Clematis. — Flowers white or delicate green in definite 

 clusters. No petals or honey secretion. Climbing by means 

 of the sensitive petioles. " Khmop " or " Traveller's Joy." 



Each indehiscent fruit is wafted ])y the feathery styles, carrying the seed 

 to its final resting-place. Found east of Swellendam. 



The fleecy clusters of feathery fruits render as much joy to the 

 " traveller " as the flowers themselves. 



