CAKYOPnYLLACE^. 5o 



small reflexcd hair-like points. Petals white, tinged with yellowish 

 green ; claw cylindrical, dilated where it passes into the oblong 

 lamina, which lias 2 strap-shaped not contiguous lobes, and 2 denti- 

 culate bosses or adnate scales at the base. Gynophore shorter than 

 the round black berry-like fruit, which is about f inch in diameter. 

 Plant green, not glaucous, finely pubescent, with short curved hairs, 

 having much the aspect of Steliaria aquatica in its mode of growth, 

 shape, and size of leaves. 



Jiemj -hearing ChicJciceed. 



Freucb, Cucuhale Forte-Baies. German, JJeerentragender Iliihnnrbtss. 



This plant is also called the Berry-bearing Campion. The older botanists, and 

 amongst them our friend Gerarde, write of it as the Berry-bearing Chickweed (Alsine 

 baccifcra), and jiraise its virtues as an emollient poultice. 



GENUS IK—S I L E N E. Zinn. ( Godr.) 



Plowers without involucral scales at the base. Calyx sub- 

 cylindrical, tubular-clavate, ovoid, bell-shaped or conical, 5-toothcd 

 or 5-cleft at the apex, generally 10- (but sometimes 20- or 30-) 

 nerved, five of the nerves indicating the line of demarcation between 

 the sepals. Petals with narrow linear or wedge-shaped claws, with- 

 out raised longitudinal bands ; lamina3 spreading, entire, notched or 

 bifid, generally with 2 scales at the base forming a crown. Stamens 

 10. Torus often more or less elongated into a stalk-like gynophore 

 between the calyx and the other parts of the flower. Styles 3, 

 more' rarely 5. Capsule 1-celled, generally with imperfect parti- 

 tions at the base, opening at the apex by twice as many teeth 

 as there are styles. Seeds reniform, laterally compressed, tubcr- 

 culated, with the hilum on the inner margin. Embryo peripherical, 

 forming a semicircle or a complete circle. 



A genus containing herbs of very various habit ; stem frequently 

 viscous in the upper part ; flowers in a few of the species dioecious. 



The derivation of this generic name is somewhat obscure ; but it is said to have 

 been given by Linnaeus, in allusion to the viscid frothy moisture on the stalks of many 

 of the species, from aiaXoi' (sialuii). Hence, too, the English name Catchfly, from the 

 fact of many small insects becnming entangled in the plant. One author attributes 

 the name to the memory of the disreputable god Silenus, whose example may have 

 done much to mislead unwary sinners. 



Section I.— BEHEN. 



Inflorescence an irregular dichotomous corymb (primary axis 

 short), sometimes reduced to a single flower. Calyx submcm- 



