462 



SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



Distribution, 8fc. — The plants of this small order are scat- 

 tered all over the world. Examples : — Elatine, Bergia, Merimea. 

 Lindley. enumerates 6 genera, and 22 species. 



Properties and Uses. — They are generally considered acrid, 

 hence the English name of the order. 



Natural Order 26. CARYOPHYLLACEiE. — The Pink or Clove- 

 wort Order (Jigs. 872 — 876). — General Character. — Herbs. 

 Stems swollen at the joints. Leaves opposite, entire, exstipulate , 

 often united at their base. Lijlorescence various, cymose (Jig. 

 411). Flowers hermaphrodite, or rarely unisexual. Sepals 4 or 5 

 (Jig. 872), distinct, or coherent into a tube (Jig. 445), persistent. 

 Petals equal in number to the sepals (Jig. 872), hypogynous, un- 



Fig. 872. Fig. 873. 



Fig. 872. Diagram of the flower of a species of Dinnthi^. — Fig. 873. V«'t|c*^ 

 action of the flower of a specie, of DianUir.s.-—Fig.m. Essential orRans of 



Stellaria. Fig. Sir,. Capsule of Diantltus, dehiscing by four valves at the apex. 



/.■,{/. »76. Vertical section of the seed of Chickweed (.SUllana). 



guiculate (Jig. 461), often deeply divided (Jig. 460), sometimes 

 absent, frequently raised above the calyx on a stalk (Jig- 873). 

 Stamens ecpuil in number to the sepals, and then either alternate 

 or opposite to them, or usually twice as numerous (Jigs. 872 and 

 874), or rarely fewer, frequently attached witli the petals on a 

 stalk above the calyx ('Jig. 873) ; Jilamcnts generally distinct 

 (Jig. 874), sometimes united at the base, subulate ; anthers m- 

 natc. ^' Otary sessile (Jig. 874), or supported with the petals 

 and stamens on a short gynoi)hore (Jigs. 587, g, and 873), 1- 

 cclled generally (Jigs. 618 and 619), or rarely 2- 5-celled (Jigs. 



