> Se 
1 e (Jf 
ES S 
¥ : EG) 6. pe 
A Qz “o, é = 
ae EY. , (ag : sid ae 
= ; win - Q 
Vi UW _. 
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A a We A: 
a Pee 
4 S EK have seen in the great Rose 
family the extremes of small 
trees covered with fine blos- 
soms on the one hand, and 
inconspicuous degenerate 
weeds on the other; in the Buttercup family, the 
simple open yellow flowers of the typical group and 
the highly specialised blossoms of Monkshood and 
Larkspur; and now we come to consider a family 
ranging from the highly - developed Pinks to the 
degencrate Chickweeds and Pearl-worts. The Pink 
family is characterised by its slender stems being 
jointed, the ends of the joints (nodes) being much 
thicker than the intermediate portion (internode). 
At the joint the leaves are given off in pairs, and their 
bases are usually so enlarged that they surround the 
stem and are joined together (connate). These leaves 
are always what is known as entire: they are never 
broken up into lobes or leaflets, and they rarely have 
stipules; if these are present, they will be very small, 
and of a dry, skinny texture. 
103 
