CARYOPHYLLACEAE. 



VOL. II. 



2. Gypsophila paniculata L. Tall Gyp- 

 sophyll. Fig. 1826. 



Gypsophila paniculata L. Sp. PI. 407. 1753. 



Perennial, glabrous or sometimes pubescent 

 below, stem slender, erect, much branched, 

 i-2 tall. Leaves lanceolate, those of the 

 stem i' long or more, 2 "-4" wide, acuminate at 

 the apex, narrowed at the base, those of the 

 branches much smaller, the bracts and bractlets 

 minute; flowers \\"-2" broad, very numerous 

 in panicled cymes; pedicels 2"~5" long; calyx 

 campanulate, i" high, deeply 5-lobed, the seg- 

 ments with broad scarious margins; petals 

 white or pink, slightly emarginate, one-fourth 

 to one-half longer than the calyx. 



Manitoba and Nebraska, escaped from cultiva- 

 tion. Fugitive from northern Europe or Asia. 

 Mist. Baby's-breath. Summer. 



6. PETRORHAGIA (Ser.) Link, Handb. 2: 235. 1831. 



Rigid and slender mainly perennial herbs, with small glomerate panicled or solitary flowers, 

 bracted at the base. Calyx top-shaped or campanulate, 5-toothed, 5-i5-nerved. Petals 5, long- 

 clawed, the limb emarginate or bifid. Stamens 10. Styles 2. Capsule ovoid or oblong, dehis- 

 cent by 4 apical teeth or valves. Seeds compressed, laterally attached ; embryo straight, eccentric. 

 [Greek, stone-breaking.] 



A genus of about 20 species, natives of southern Europe and 

 western Asia, the following typical. 



i. Petrorhagia Saxifraga (L.) Ser. Tunica. Saxifrage 

 Pink. Fig. 1827. 



Dianthus Saxifraga L. Sp. PI. 413. 1753. 



Tunica Saxifraga Scop. Fl. Cam. Ed. 2, 300. 1772. 



Petrorhagia Saxifraga Sen; Link, Handb. 2: 235. 1831. 



Perennial, tufted, sparsely pubescent or glabrous; stems dif- 

 fuse or ascending, 4'-8' long, terete, branching. Leaves linear- 

 subulate, erect, very acute, 3"~S" long, less than \" wide, connate 

 at the base, the lower imbricated, the upper distant, their mar- 

 gins scabrous or ciliate; flowers panicled, about 3" broad, pink 

 or purple; calyx campanulate, 5-ribbed, 3" long, twice the length 

 of the scarious-margined acute bracts. 



Roadsides, Flushing, Long Island, N. Y., and London, Ontario. 

 Adventive from Europe. Summer. 



7. SAPONARIA L. Sp. PI. 408. 1753. 



Annual or perennial, erect or diffuse herbs, mostly with broad leaves and large flowers. 

 Calyx ovoid, oblong or tubular, 5-toothed, obscurely nerved. Petals 5, entire or emarginate, 

 long-clawed. Stamens 10. Ovary i -celled or incompletely 2-4-celled; styles 2. Capsule 

 ovoid or oblong, dehiscent by 4 short apical teeth or valves. [Latin, soap; its juices abound 

 in saponin, and have cleansing qualities.] 



About 35 species, natives of Europe, Asia and northern Africa the following typical. 



