192 75- CARYOPHYLLACEAE 



basal or central placentas, with a distinct funicl'-, curved or inverted. Seeds 

 albuminous ; embryo usually curved. — Genera 45, species 280. (Including 

 PARONYCHIEAE or ILLECEBRACEAE, ALSINACEAE, and SILE- 

 NACEAE.) (Plate 45.) 



1. Sepals free or united up to the insertion of the stamens. Petals not 



distinctly clawed, sometimes wanting. Receptacle concave or small 



and rather flat. [Subfamily ALSINOIDEAE.] 



Sepals united beyond the insertion of the stamens. Petals present, usually 

 clawed. Receptacle stalk-like or small and flat. Styles free. [Sub- 

 family SILENOIDEAE.] 35 



2. Fruit indehi^cent or irregularly bursting at the base, rarely at the top. 



Ovule I, rarely ovules 2, and then sepals 5. Petals usually scale-like or 

 wanting. Leave? stipulate, rarely exstipulate : in the latter case 



styles 2 3 



Fruit opening from the top by teeth or valves. Ovules numerous, rarel}^ 2, 

 and then sepals 4, very rarely ovule i ; in this case leaves exstipulate 

 and styles 3. Petals usually perfectly developed 16 



3. Flowers in ..lusten- of 3, the middle ane hermaphrodite, the side flowers male 



or rudimentary. Stamens nearly hypogynous. Style i. Ovule one. 

 Embryo almost straight. Leaves opposite, stipulate. [Tribe PTER- 



ANTHEAE.] 4 



F"lowers all alike. Stamens perigynous 6 



4. Stamens 2 — 3. Staminodcs and petals absent. Sepals 5. Stigmas 3. 



Clusters of flowers on a rather thin stalk, with entire involucral bracts. 



Shrubs. — Species i. Canary Islands. . . . Dicheranthus Webb 



Stamens 4 — 5. Clusters of flowers with pinnately divided involucral 



bracts. Herbs 5 



5. Sepals 4. Petals and ejtaminodes none. Stamens 4. Stigmas 2. Clusters 



of flowers on a much broadened and hollow stalk. — Species i. North 



Africa Pteranthus Forsk. 



Sepals 5. Petals or staminodes 5. Stamens 5. Stigmas 3. Clusters of 

 flowers on a rather thin stalk. — Species i. Northern East Africa to 



Egypt. Cometes L 



(). Leaves exstipulate. Petals none. Styles 2. Ovule i. Herbs. Leaves 

 opposite. — Species 3. North Africa, Abyssinia, and South Africa. 



[Tribe SCLERANTHEAE.] Scleranthus L. 



Leaves stipulate. [Tribe PARONYCHIEAE.] 7 



7. Ovule 1 8 



Ovules 2. Undershrubs 15 



8. Style-branches, stigmas, or stigma-lobes 2, very rarely t, and tlien style 



very short 9 



Style-branches, stigmas, or stigma-lobes 3, very rarely i, but then style 

 elongated 13 



