PARONYCHIACE^E. 181 



in fascicles of 3 or 4 in the axils of the leaves, and so appearing to be 

 in whorls, with scarious bracts at the base. Calyx in frnit, pure 

 white, opaque, the segments about -^^ inch long. Plant glabrous. 



Whorled lllecebrum. 



German, qiiirlhlutldge Knoriydhlmne. 



Tribe II.— SCLERANTHE^. 



Sepals united into a tube at the base. Petals none, unless the 

 barren filaments represent them. Stipules absent. 



GENUS IV.— ^ CLERANTHUS. Linn. 



Calyx tube funnelshaped or ovoid-urceolate ; limb 5-, very rarely 

 4-lobed; lobes herbaceous, with scarious margins, ovate, obtuse or 

 acute. Petals ( ?) none. Stamens 5, inserted in the throat of the 

 calyx tube, and opposite to its segments, usually alternating with 5 

 barren filaments ( ?). Ovary 1-celled, containing a single ovule ; stigmas 

 2, elevated on 2 distinct styles. Fruit roundish-ovoid, membranous, 

 indehiscent, enveloped in the tube of the calyx, which becomes en- 

 larged and indurated. 



Herbs generally dichotomously branched, with opposite linear or 

 subulate leaves connate at the base, destitute of stipules. Flowers 

 minute, sessile in lateral and terminal fascicles, or solitary in the forks 

 of the stem. 



The name of this gcnns of plants is derived from the Greek words iricXjjpor, hard, 

 and cifOoc, a flower, fi'om the dry scariose texture of the calyx. 



SPECIES I.-SCLERANTHUS ANNUUS. Linn. 

 Plates MCLXXIV. MCLXXV. 

 Bniot, Fl. Gall, et Gei-m. Exsicc. No. 20. 



Annual or biennial. Flowers solitary in the forks of the stem and 

 branches, and generally dichotomously fasciculate in the apex of the 

 branches, or all in terminal fascicles. Calyx segments strapshaped- 

 triangular or triangular, acute or subacute, with a very narrow mem- 

 branous border. 



Var. a, genuinus. 

 Plate MCLXXIV. 

 Annual. Internodes elongated. Fruiting calyx tube with 10 



