igÖ 75. CARYOPHYLLACEAE 



39. Flowers small. Calyx tubular, i5-ribbc(l. Petals notched ; scales small 



or reduced to hairs. Stamens 5 — 10. Fruit linear. Seeds with an 

 anterior hilum and a straight embryo. Leaves linear. — Species i. 



North Africa. Velezia L. 



Flowers rather large. Calyx 15 — 25-ribbed. Petals with wing-like out- 

 growths on the claw and with scales at the base of the blade. Stamens 

 JO. Seeds with a lateral hilum and a curved embryo. Leaves lanceolate. 



— Species 4. North Africa. They are used as ornamental or medicinal 

 plants and yield also a substitute for soap. " Soapwort." . Saponaria L. 



40. Calyx ventricosc, acutely angled, with 15 — 25 ribs, not surrounded by 



bracts. Petals minutely toothed. Fruit ovoid. Seeds with a lateral 

 hilum and a curved embryo. — Species i. North Africa. The roots 

 are used as a substitute tor soap. (Under Saponaria L.) 



Vaccaria Medik. 

 Calj^ tubular, with 35 — 55 ribs, surrounded by two or more bracts at 

 the base. Seeds with an anterior hilum and a straight embryo. ■ — 

 Species 25. North and South Africa and mountains of Central Africa. 

 Many of them are used as ornamental plants or for the preparation of 

 perfumes. '' Pink," Dianthus L. 



41- (35-) Styles 5, alternating with the sepals. Ovary and fruit completely 



i-celled. Petals without scales at the base of the blade 42 



Styles 5, opposite the sepals, or 3 — 4. Stamens 10 43 



42. Petals with a two-winged claw. Stamens 10. Styles hairy. Ovules 



numerous. — Species i. North Africa, also introduced into South 

 Africa. The seeds are poisonous and used in medicine. " Corncockle.'' 



[Githago Desfont., under Lychnis L.) Agrostemma L. 



Petals with a wingless claw. Stamens 5. Styles glabrous. Ovules few. 



— Species 3. Northern East Africa and Cameroons. Uebelinia Höchst. 



43. Ovary and fruit completely i -celled. Calyx more or less inflated, 10 — 20- 



ribbed. Petals with scales at the base of the blade. Fruit opening by 

 6 — 10 teeth. Seeds tubercled. — Species 6. North-west and South 

 Africa. Some are used as ornamental plants, or as a substitute for soap. 



(Under Lychnis L.) Melandryum Roehl. 



Ovary and fruit divided into cells at the base 44 



44. Fruit a berry. Calyx shortly and widely bell-shaped. Petals greenish- 



white, with a recurved 2-cleft blade provided with two scales at its base. 

 Styles 3. Stem cUmbing. Leaves ovate or oblong. ■ — Species i. 



North-west Africa Cucubalus L. 



Fruit a capsule, opening by 6 or more teeth. — Specie? 75. North and South 

 Africa and mountains of Central Africa. Some are used as a sub- 

 stitute tor soap, as vegetables, in medicine or as ornamental plants. (In- 

 cluding Eudianthe Rohrb ) Silene L 



