368 DICOTYLEDOXES. 



corona absent. The straight embryo is a peculiar exception. Gypsopliila 

 has a campanulate, open calyx, 5-nerved, membranous between the 

 nerves; corona absent; the flowers are generally small and 

 numerous, in a large, paniculate dichasia. Saponaria (Soapwort) 

 has corona. 



POLLINATION. Alsinece has ordinary nectaries at the base of the calyx- 

 stamens (Fig. 336) : they are frequently protanclrous but may often, in the 

 absence of cross-pollination (in the less conspicuous species) pollinate them- 

 selves. Their open flowers are accessible to many kinds of insects (particu- 

 larly flies and bees). Gynodicecious flowers are found in several species, and 

 the -flowers are then generally more conspicuous than the $ -flowers. That 

 the ? -flowers have descended from -flowers is seen by the large staminodes 

 found in them (Fig. 363). Arenaria peploides is dioecious (Fig. 363). The Silenfce 

 are as a rule adapted for pollination by insects with long probosces especially 

 butterflies, and they are frequently protandrous, so that at first the calyx- 

 stamens open, later on the corolla-stamens, then the stigmas expand. The 

 honey is secreted by a ring-like nectary round the base of the ovary or by 

 nectaries at the base of the stamens. Some only blossom and emit scent at 

 night or in the evening (Lychnis vespertina, Silene nutans, Saponaria officinalis) 

 and, like other night-flowers, are of a white or pale colour. 



DISTRIBUTION. 1,100 species, especially in temperate climates, fewer in the 

 colder zone, less still in the Tropics. The Paronychieae are especially found in 

 dry, sandy fields. 



USES. " Soap-root " (with Saponin, forming a lather in water) from Saponaria 

 officinalis was formerly officinal, and Gypsophila struthium. The seeds of 

 Agrostemma githago are said to be poisonous. The following are ornamental 

 plants : species of Pinks (D. caryophyllus, garden Pink, often with double 

 flowers; D. barbatus, plumarius, etc]. Lychnis, Gypyophila, Silene, Cerastinm 

 {C. tomentosum as edging for borders), Saponaria officinalis (often coronate). 

 Spergula arvensis is sometimes cultivated. 



Order 2. Amarantaceae. The flowers are essentially the same as in the 

 Chenopodiacece and the extremely reduced Caryophyllaceae (Fig. 361 F) ; they 

 are regular, hypogynous, generally , have 5 free (rarely slightly united) 

 perianth-leaves ; in front of these 5 stamens, which are often united at their 

 base into a shorter or longer tube and have stipule-like teeth between them (the 

 division Gomphretiea; has 2-locular anthers, each of which opens longitudinally) ; 

 and a 2-3 carpellate gynoeceum with one loculus and most frequently one, moro 

 rarely several, ovules; the fruit is a nut, more rarely (in Celosia, Amarantii*, 

 Gomphrena) a capsule, dehiscing irregularly, or like a pyxidium. The characters 

 which especially separate them from the allied orders are found in the perianth. 

 The perianth-leaves are not green and herbaceous, but membranous, dry, and 

 often coloured ; they are frequently produced into a bristle or awn ; they have 

 also both subtending floral-leaves and 2 large bracteoles similar to the perianth; 

 all these dry leaves persist without alteration after the withering of the flower. 

 The flowers are without scent. They are arranged in spike- or capitulum- 

 like inflorescences; sometimes placed singly, sorm times aggregated in the 

 panicle-like inflorescences ; in others, on the contrary, in dichasia. The 



