48 CARYOPHYLLACF^E. (PINK FAMILY.) 



1. S. rubra, Pers. Sands or marshes along the coast, Florida and north. 

 ward. April and May. (l) Stems prostrate, much branched. Leaves linear, 

 longer than the joints. Seed with or without a membranaceous margin. 



6. SPERGULA, L. SPURREY. 



Sepals 5. Petals 5, entire. Stamens 5 or 10. Styles 5. Capsule 5-valved, 

 the valves opposite the sepals. Embryo forming a ring around the albumen. 

 Leaves whorled. Flowers cymose, white. 



1. S. arvensis, L. Stem erect; leaves fleshy, narrow-linear, several in a 

 whorl; cyme loose, long-peduncled ; fruiting pedicels reflexed ; stamens 10; 

 seeds rough. Cultivated fields, Florida and northward : introduced. (J) . 



7. POLYCARPON, L. 



Sepals 5, carinate. Petals 5, emarginate, shorter than the sepals. Stamens 

 3 - 5. Styles 3, very short. Capsule 3-valved. Low annuals, with whorled 

 leaves, and minute flowers, in terminal cymes. 



1. P. tetraphyllum, L. Stems (3' -6') forking, diffuse; leaves spatu- 

 late-obovate, the lower ones 4 in a whorl, the upper opposite; sepals acute; 

 stipules conspicuous. Near Charleston. Introduced. May and June. 



8. MOLLUGO, L. 



Sepals 5. Petals none. Stamens 5 and alternate with the sepals, or 3 and 

 alternate with the cells of the ovary. Styles 3, short. Capsule 3-valved, 3-celled, 

 many-seeded. Prostrate diffusely-branched annuals. Leaves whorled. Flow- 

 ers white, on slender axillary peduncles. 



1 M. verticillata, L. Smooth ; leaves spatulate-lanceolate, unequal, in 

 whorls of 4 - 8 ; fruiting peduncles reflexed ; stamens 3. Cultivated ground, 

 common. Introduced. May - August. 



9. VAGINA, L. 



Sepals 4-5. Petals 4-5, entire, or wanting. Stamens 4 - 10. Styles 4-5, 

 alternate with the sepals. Capsule 4 - 5-valved ; the valves entire, opposite the 

 sepals. Small herbs, with filiform forking stems, subulate leaves, and solitary 

 flowers. 



1. S. Elliottii, Fenzl. Smooth; stems erect or ascending, tufted ; pedun- 

 cles erect ; petals and sepals 5, equal, obtuse ; stamens 10. (Spergula decum- 

 bens, Ell.) Damp cultivated ground, common. April -June. (T Stems 

 2' - 6' high. Peduncles 2-3 times as long as the sharp-pointed leaves. 



10. ALSINE, Tourn. 



Sepals 5. Petals 5. Stamens 10. Styles 3. Capsule 1 -celled, 3-valved, the 

 valves entire, opposite the inner sepals. Low slender herbs, with linear or sub- 

 ulate leaves, and white cymose or solitary flowers. 



