93 CARYOPHYLLACE^. 



Group 5. Ovary compound, one-celled with a free central placenta, or several- 

 celled with the placenttB in the axis. Calyx free from the ovary or nearly so. 



Order XIX. CARYOPHYLLACEiE. Juss. The Pink Tribe. 



Calyx of 4 - 5 sepals, which are distinct or cohering below into a tube. Corolla 

 of 4 - 5 petals (sometimes wanting), unguiculate and inserted upon the pedicel 

 of the ovary, or without claws and inserted on the outside of a fleshy disk 

 which is sometimes perigynous. Stamens as many, or, more commonly, twice 

 as many as the petals, and inserted with them : anthers fixed by the middle, 

 introrse. Ovary often stipitate : styles 2-5, usually stigmatose the whole 

 length on the inner surface. Capsule 2-5- valved, one-celled by the oblite- 

 ration of the dissepiments ; or more or less completely 2 - 5-celled, opening at 

 the apex by twice as many teeth as there are stigmas, or by loculicidal dehis- 

 cence : placenta in the axis. Seeds campulitropous, numerous (rarely few). 

 Embryo curved around the outside of mealy albumen. — Herbs. Stems 

 with tumid joints. Leaves opposite, entire, destitute of stipules. 



CONSPECTUS OF THE TRIBES. 



Tribe I, Alsines. Sepals nearly or quite distinct. Petals without claws, inserted with the stamens on the disk. 



Capsule one-celled. 

 Tribe II. Silene£. Sepals united into a tube. Petals with claws, inserted with the stamens on the sUpe of the 



ovary. Capsule one-celled. 

 Tribe III. MoLLUQiNE^. Sepals united at the base. Capsule 3 - 5-celled. 



Tribe I. ALSINEjE. Bartl. 



Sepals nearly or quite distinct. Petals destitute of claws, inserted on the outside of the 

 hypogynous, or more or less perigynous, disk. Stamens inserted on the margin of the 

 disk. Capsule one-celled. 



CONSPECTUS OF THE GfENERA. 



1 . HoNCKENTA. Sepals and petals 5 ; the latter entire and perigynous. Stamens 10. Seeds few, not strophiolate. 



2. Sagina. Sepals and petals 4-5, the latter entire. Stamens 4-10. Styles 4 - 5. Capsule 4-5-valved; the 



valves entire. Seeds numerous. 



3. Arenaria. Sepals and petals 5, the latter entire. Stamens mostly 10. Styles 3. Capsule 3-valved. Seeds 



numerous, 



4. McEHRiNQiA, Sepals and petals 4 - 5; the latter entire or retuse. Stamens 8 - 10. Styles usually 3, Capsule 3- 



(rarely 3- or 4-) valved; the valves 2-parted to the base. Seeds rather few, stiophiolate. 



5. Stellaria, Sepals and petals usually 5 ; the latter 2-cleft, Stamens mostly 10, Styles 3 (rarely 4). Capsule 



3- (rarely 4-) valved; the valves 2-parted. 



6. Cerastium. Sepals and petals usually 5; the latter 2-cleft. Styles 5 (rarely 4). Capsule opening at the summit 



by 10 teeth. Seeds numerous. 



