CARYOPHYLLACE^E. 21 



naked. Pod much longer than the calyx. Flowers small, deep 

 yellow. Wet, sandy places. 



3. ELO'DES, Adans. MAKSII ST. JOHN'S WOET. 

 E. Virgin'ica, Nutt. Stem smooth. Leaves oblong or oval, 

 clasping, often purple-veined, obtuse, conspicuously dotted 

 beneath. Flowers flesh-coloured in the axils, and at the summit 

 of the stem. The whole plant is of a purplish hue. Marshes. 



ORDER XVI. CAKYOPHYLLA'CE^I. (PiNK FAMILY.) 



Herbs with opposite and entire leaves, the stems swollen at the 

 joints. Flowers regular, with the parts mostly in fives, occasion- 

 ally in fours. Stamens not more than twice as many as the 

 petals. Styles 2-5, stigmatic along the inner side. Pod usually 

 1- celled, with the seeds attached to the base, or to a column 

 which rises from the centre of the cell. (Part I., Fig. 194.) 

 Synopsis of the Genera. 



* Sepals united into a tube or cup. Petals and stamens borne on the stalk of 



the ovary : petals with long narrow claws. 



1. Sapona'ria. Calyx cylindrical. Styles 2. 



2. Sile'ne. Calyx 5-toothed. Styles 3. 



3. L-ycli'nis. Calyx 5-toothed. Styles 5. 



* * Sepals separate to the base or nearly so. Petals without claws, they and 



the stamens inserted at the base of the sessile ovary. 



4. Arena'ria. Petals not cleft at the apex. Styles usually 3. Pod splitting 



into 3 or 6 valves. 



5. Stella'ria. Petals 2-cleft at the apex. Pod splitting to the base into 



twice as many valves as there are styles. Styles generally 3. 



6. Ceras'tium. Petals 2-cleft, or notched. Styles 5. Pod opening at the 



apex by 10 teeth. 



1. SAPONA'RIA, L. SOAPWOBT. 



S. officinalis, L. (BOUNCING BET.) A stout plant, with rose- 

 coloured or pinkish flowers clustered in corymbs. Leaves 3-5- 

 ribbed, the lower ovate, upper lanceolate. Pod raised on a short 

 stalk. Styles 2. Old gardens and roadsides. 



3. SELE'XE, L. CATCHFLY. CAMPION. 



1. S. infla'ta, Smith. (BLADDER CAMPION.) Pale or glaucous, 

 very smooth. Stem erect, a foot high. Leaves ovate-lanceolate. 

 Calyx much inflated, pur pie-veined. Stamens and styles exserted. 

 Not common westward. 



