74 CARYOPHYLLACE.E. 



polygamous. 



1. Saponaria. Calyx 5-angled becoming 5-winged : its teeth short, not 

 foliaceous : styles 2, capsule 4-5 valved. 



2. Silene. Calyx commonly 9-nerved, styles 3 : capsule opening by as 

 many or twice as many teeth. 



3. Lychnis. Calyx 10-nerved, styles 4 or 5, alternate with the petals 

 when of the same number: capsule opening by as many or twice as 

 many teeth : perennials. 



4. Agrostemma. Styles 5 opposite the petals : calyx-teeth conspicuously 

 prolonged into foliaceous appendages. 



TRIBE n. Sepals free or slightly united at the very base. Pet- 

 als unappendaged, more or less narrowed below but not to a dis- 

 tinct claw, inserted with the stamens on the margin of the disk 

 at the base of the sessile ovary, not rarely inconspicuous or none. 



* Stipules none. 



+- Capsule cylindric more or less elongated, often curved, dehiscent 

 by twice as many teeth as there are carpels. 



5. Cerastium. Capsule cylindric dehiscent with twice as many equal 

 teeth as styles : petals emarginate or bifid ; styles 5, rarely 3 or 4. 



- *- Capsule ovoid or oblong, relatively short, dehiscent by as 

 many or twice as many teeth as there are styles. 



** Styles usually fewer than the sepals, when of the same number 

 opposite them. % 



6. Alsine. Capsule globose to oblong, with as many* valves as styles, 

 petals bifid or 2-parted : styles 3, rarely 2, 4 or 5. 



7. Arenaria. Sepals 5, petals as many, entire or emarginate rarely 

 wanting: styles 3, 4 or 5. 



H- ** Styles as many as the sepals and alternate with them. 



8. Alsinella. Capsule globose with as many entire valves as styles : 

 sepals 4 or 5, petals entire as many as the sepals or wanting. 



* * Stipules present scarious or setiform : petals undivided. 

 *- Petals conspicuous, styles distinct. 



9. Spergula. Styles 5, alternate with the sepals and with the entire 

 valves of the capsule. 



10. Tissa. Styles and valves of the capsuie 3, very rarely 5. 



Tribe I. Silenese DC. Sepals united into a 4- or 5-toothed or 

 -lobed calyx. Petals unguiculate, often scale-bearing or appendaged 

 at the junction of the blade and claw, inserted with the stamens on 

 the stipe of the ovary. Stipules none. Flowers usually showy, 

 perfect or polygamous. 



1 SAPONARIA L. Gen. n. 564. 



Smooth branching herbs witlj entire leaves and showy pink or 

 white flowers in terminal clusters or panicles, blooming in sum- 

 mer. Calyx tubular or obovoid, 5-toothed, terete, with numerous 

 faint veins or conspicuously 5-angled. Petals 5. Stamens 10. 



Styles 2. Capsule 1-celled or Imperfectly 2-4-cel led ,ai base, 

 dehiscent by 4 short teeth. Seeds laterally attached. Embryo 

 curved. 



