Victorian Plants. 39 



185. Petals numerous. 



Herbs or shrubs ; leaves very succulent, mostly opposite ; 

 stamens numerous ; fruit succulent, its cells slit at the 

 depressed summit, many-seeded. Figure 39. 



MesenibrianthemTiin. 794 



Petals none. 



Herbs or shrubs ; leaves rather succulent, scattered ; 

 stamens few or several ; fruit rather or quite succulent, 

 indehiscent, few-seeded. Figure 40. Tetragoiiia. 795 



CARYOFXXYX.X.&AE. 



186. Calyx consisting of sepals ... ... ... ... 187 



Calyx short-lobed . , 191 



187. Stipules absent 188 



Stipules present ... ... ... ... ... 190 



188. Valves of fruit twice as many as styles. 



Leaves often broadish ; sepals usually five ; petals bifid ; 

 stamens usually ten ; styles generally three. 



Stellaria. 796 



Valves of fruit as many as styles ... ... ... 189 



189. Stamens opposite to the sepals. 



Leaves always very narrow ; sepals four to five ; petals 

 four to five or absent ; stamens usually four or five ; 

 styles four or five. Sagina. 799 



Stamens alternate with the sepals. 



Perennial plants, often of turfy growth ; sepals four to five ; 

 petals absent ; stamens four to five ; styles four to five. 

 Figure 32. Colobanthus. 800 



190. Sepals prominently keeled. 



Leaves broadish ; sepals five ; petals very minute ; stamens 

 three to five, opposite to the sepals ; styles three ; valves 

 of fruit as many as styles. Polycarpon. 801 



Sepals without a prominent keel. 



Leaves narrow ; sepals usually five ; petals five or none ; 

 stamens generally ten ; styles three or five ; valves of 

 fruit as many as styles. Spergularia. 802 



