42 



BRITISH FLOWERING PLANTS 



stalked flowers with 3 petals and 6 stamens ; and 

 the Eight-stamened Elatine {Elatine hydropiper) 

 has sessile flowers with 4 petals and 8 stamens. 



Order XIV. Caryophyllacece (19 genera) 



This is a large family, including the Pinks and 

 Carnations and many other handsome flowers, 

 both wild and cultivated. There are generally 4 

 or 5 sepals and petals, the sepals often connected, 

 and forming a tube, the outer rim of which is 

 dentated. The petals when present are equally 

 numerous, the stamens are twice as many, and 

 the styles number from 2 to 5. The fruit usually 

 forms a capsule, and the leaves are opposite to 

 each other, entire, and generally narrow. 



The genus Dianthus, which includes the true 

 Pinks, is easily recognisable by possessing bracts 

 at the base of the calyx. As wild flowers they are 

 scarce and local in Britain, though many species 

 are favourite garden flowers. Rabbits are however 

 so fond of these plants, that when they are 

 numerous they often keep them eaten off so close 



as to prevent them flowering at all, unless they are 

 protected by wire netting. 



Carthusian Pink — Dianthus CartJiusianorum 

 (Plate XV) 

 The handsome species which we have figured 

 as a representative of the true Pinks is not un- 

 common on grassy slopes in many parts of Central 

 and Southern Europe from June to September, 

 but is not a native of the British Islands. The 

 flowers grow two or three together on very short 

 stalks, or stunted plants may bear only a single 

 flower. They are remarkable for their dentated 

 petals. 



Soapwort — Saponaria officinalis 

 (Plate XVI) 

 The Soapwort is found in hedges, on hill-sides, 

 or on the borders of streams. It has perennial 

 creeping roots, and spreads very rapidly. The 

 leaves are clustered together, with three or more 

 strongly marked longitudinal ribs. The flowers 



