CARYOPHYLLACE^:. 



369 



by twice as many teeth as stigmas (figs. 444, 574); placenta in the 

 axis of the fruit (figs. 391, 574, 2, p). Seeds usuaDy 00, amphitropal 



with mealy albumen, and a peripherical embryo (fig. 575). Herbs, 

 sometimes suflruticose plants, with opposite, entire, exstipulate, some- 

 times connate leaves, and usually cymose inflorescence (figs. 249, 250.) 

 They inhabit chiefly temperate and cold regions. The order has been 

 divided into three suborders: 1. Alsineas, sepals distinct (fig. 269), 

 and opposite the stamens, when the flowers are isostemonous. 2. 

 Sileneae, sepals cohering in a tube (fig. 290 c), opposite the stamens, 

 when the flowers are isostemonous. 3. Mollugineas, sepals distinct or 

 nearly so, alternate with the stamens, when isostemonous. Lindley 

 mentions 53 genera, and 1055 species. Examples Alsine, Cerastium, 

 Dianthus, Silene, Mollugo. 



Figs. 571-575. Illustrations of the natural order Caryophyllaceae. 



Fig. 571. Diagram of the flower of Alsine media, common Chickweed, belonging to the 

 natural order Caryophyllacese, suborder Alsineas. The flower consists of 5 imbricate sepals, 5 

 alternate petals, 5 stamens, a unilocular ovary, with a free central placenta, and numerous ovules. 



Fig. 572. Section of the flower of Dianthus Caryophyllus, Carnation, c, Calyx ; p, petals, 

 cohering with the stamens at the base; e, stamens; g, gynophore or thecaphore, i.e. the stalk 

 supporting the ovary: o, ovary with central placenta and ovules; s, two stigmas, which are 

 papillose all along their inner surface. 



Fig. 573. Horizontal section of the ovary in a very young state, showing the partitions, c c, 

 which divide the ovary into two cavities. These divisions ultimately disappear, leaving the 

 placenta, p, bearing the ovules free in the centre. 



Fig. 574. Capsule of Lychnis Githago at the period of dehiscence, when the pericarp separates 

 into five valves at the summit. 1. The capsule entire. 2. Capsule cut vertically, to show the 

 seeds, g, grouped in a mass, on a free central placenta, p. 



Fig. 575. Seeds. 1. Entire seed. 2. Seed cut vertically, t, Spermoderm. c, Peripherical 

 embryo, surrounding the mealy perisperm, p. 



2B 



