DICOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS ta 
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.* 
Ill. 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 1-seeded, never opening. 
1. S. annuus, L. Knawert. A much-branched annual weed, 
2-8 in. high. Stem and leaves pale green; the leaves 1 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 Europe, common in sandy roads and 
waste. ground E. 
IV. AGROSTEMMA, L. 
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 Cocke. 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.* 
