Silene.] CARYOPHYLLACEAE. 27 
2 var.? argenteum. — Leaves whitish underneath with a closely appressed 
tomentum. Inflorescences mostly in cauline whorls, subsessile, their axes 
4—6", the pedicels 1—2”. Sepals white-tomentose, 2“. Tube of corolla 
3”. Ovary and young capsules whitish-tomentose. 
Collected by Lydgate on the south side of Haleakala! Maui. 
Orper IX. CARYOPHYLLACEAE. 
neeee 4—5, persistent, free, or united into a toothed calyx. Petals as 
any, imbricate or contorted in the bud, sometimes minute or wanting. 
paint ns free, twice as many as the petals, or fewer, hypogynous or very 
slightly perigynous, filiform, the anthers 2-celled, Pag ices lengthwise. 
Torus sometimes drawn out tate 2 stalked gynophore supporting petals, 
stamens and ovary, or expanded into an annular disk which invests the 
calyx and continues between or outside the stamens in short glands or 
staminodia. aesacs free, 1-celled, or rarely at the base Pedic Ovules 
2 to many, campylotropous, affixed to the bottom of the ovary or to a 
free central pier lla. Styles 2—5, de ieec along their raete length, 
free, or united in part. Capsule 1-celled, opening at the top into as many 
or twice as many teeth or valves as there are styles. Embryo coiled or 
curved round mealy albumen. — Herbs or undershrubs, with a 
entire leaves. Stipules none, or small and scarious. Flowers in cym 
paniculate or corymbose. 
s satan gia Order, widely spread, chiefly over the temperate regions of the northern 
emis pher 
Calyx tubular; open. agen and ovary raised on a gynophore . 1, Silene. 
Sepals distinct, nearly so; torus not elongate: 
1 ey 
als and staminodia 5; stamens free 2. Schiedea 
1s 4—5; staminodia 8—10; stamens connected at the base 3. Alsinidendron. 
Petals present: 
Stipules abs 
aaa bifid ; « capsule opening at the top into 10 teeth > 4. preesie 
etals entire ; expe — to the base into 5 valves 5. Sagina. 
6. Spergula. 
Bide present 
1. SILENE, L. 
Calyx 5-toothed, 10- or many-nerved. Petals, stamens and ovary raised 
8 
with a central columella. Styles 3, discreet. Capsule opening at the 
top into 6 or rarely 3 teeth or valve tuberculate, affixed by 
marginal funicles. — Herbs or rarely undershrubs, with alternating pairs 
of opposite leaves, without stipules. Flowers solitary or cymose, often 
a one-sided racemes or terminal panicles. 
200 species, spread over the temperate regions chiefly of the Old World. 
