DICOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS 73 



high. Lower leaves spatulate, the upper oblong, acute, or obtuse ; 

 bracts thin and dry. Flowers in loose cymes, pedicels becoming 

 much longer than the calyx. Sepals lanceolate, acute, about as long- 

 as the 2-cleft petals. Slender capsule becoming twice as long as the 

 calyx and curved upward. A common garden weed.* 



m. SCLERANTHUS, L. 



Low tufted herbs. Leaves opposite, clasping, awl-shaped, 

 sharp-pointed. Flowers very small and greenish. Calyx- 

 tube funnel-shaped or urn-shaped, hardening into an envelope 

 for the fruit ; calyx-lobes 4-5, short, erect. Petals none. 

 Stamens 1, 2, 5, or 10, inserted on' the throat of the calyx. 

 Styles 2, thread-like. Fruit l-seeded, never opening. 



1. S. annuus, L. Knawel. A much-branched annual weed, 

 2-8 in. high. Stem and leaves pale green ; the leaves ^ to i in. 

 long, rather prickly pointed. Flowers solitary in the lower axils 

 and somewhat clustered above. Calyx-teeth with narrow whitish 

 margins. Introduced from Eui'ope, common in sandy roads and 

 waste ground E. 



rV. AGROSTEMMA. 



Annual ; stem pubescent, branching above. Leaves linear- 

 lanceolate or linear, pubescent, sessile. Flowers showy, on 

 long and naked peduncles in terminal corymbs. Calyx tubu- 

 lar, the tube oblong, 10-ribbed, lobes elongated, leaf-like, 

 deciduous. Petals 5, shorter than the calyx lobes, entire. 

 Stamens 10. Styles 5, capsules 1-celled.* 



1. A. Githago, L. Corn Cockle. Stem erect, rather slender, 1-3 

 ft. tall, gray, with long, appressed hairs. Leaves linear-lanceolate, 

 acuminate, erect, 2-4 in. long. Petals obovate, notched, purple. 

 Capsule 5-toothed, many-seeded ; seeds black. An introduced weed, 

 common in grain fields.* 



V. SILENE, L. 



Annual or perennial herbs. Stems erect or decumbent and 

 diffuse. Leaves often connate or whorled. Flowers clustered 

 or solitary, usually pink or white. Calyx tubular, more or 

 less inflated, 5-toothed, 10-nerved, bractless. Petals 5, long- 

 clawed, and with the ten stamens inserted at the base of the 

 ovary. Styles 3, ovary 1-celled or 3-celled at the base, open- 

 ing by 6 teeth, many-seeded. Seeds usually roughened.* 



