ORDER XXI. CARYOrilYLLACE^. 247 



glabrous, erect, slender. Leaves subulate, acute, slightly connate. 

 Flowers on filiform, axillary peduncles. Sepals oblong, persistent. 

 Petals obcordate, emnrginate, twice the length of the sepals. — White. 

 ^. May. In the low country, swamj>s. 10 — 12 inches. 



5. S. LANUGiNo'sA, (T. (fe G.) {ArejiaHa diffusa of Ell.) Stcni branch- 

 ing, diifuso, decumbent. Leaves oblong-lanccolate, acute, alternate at 

 the base. Flowers on solitary, axillary, 1-flowered peduncles. Sepals 

 ovate, acute, persistent. Petals oval, very small, or entirely wanting. 

 — White. 0. April — June. Damp soils. 2 — 3 feet long, supporting 

 itself on small plants. 



Genus V.— CERAS'TIUM. L. 10—5. {Chickweed.) 

 (From the Greek keras, a horn, tlic shape of the capsules.) 



Seixds 5, somewhat united at tlie base. Petals 5, 2-eleft, or 



emarginate. Stamens 10, seldom a less number. Pistils 5. 



Capsules 1-celled, 5-valved, dehiscing at the apex, producing 

 10, rarely 5 teeth, many-seeded. 



1. C. vulga'tum, (L.) {C. hirsufuni of Ell.) Stem procumbent, 

 branching, fistulous, hirsute. Xeat>^s ovate or obovate, obtuse, coimate. 

 Flowers ia diehotomous panicles with a flower in each division. Sepals 

 persistent, "with membranaceous margin. Petals oblong, expanding, 

 double the length of the sepals. Stamens unequal. Styles sliort. 

 Stigmas glandular. — W^hite. 0. April — Sept. Very common. 6 — 12 

 inches. 



2. C. visco'suM, (L.) Stem hirsute and viscid, diffuse. Leaves lance- 

 olate-oblong, obtuse. Flowers in a loose cyme. Petals oho\^.iQ, scarce- 

 ly longer than the calj'x. Capsule nearly twice as long as the calyx. 

 — White. If. May — Sept. Old pastures, common. 



3. C. arven'se, (L.) Stems declined at the base, retrorsely pubes- 

 cent. Leaves linear or linear-lanceolate, acute. Flowers few on an 

 elongated pedunc-le. Sepals obtuse, half the length of the petals. Pe- 

 tals obcordate. — White. If. May — July. Rocky places. 2 — 8 inches. 



Genus VI.— SILE'NE. L. 10—3. 

 (From sialon, saliva, from the viscid substance on the stem.) 



Sepals 5, united into a tube. Petals 5, unguiculate, with 

 long; claws, usually crowned at the summit of the claw ; limb 

 2-cleft. Stamens 10, inserted on the stype of the ovary. Pis- 

 tils 3. Capsule 3-celled, opening at the apex with six teeth. 



1. S. stella'ta, (Ait.) Stem erect, branching, njinutely pubescent. 

 Leaves vrtic Hate by fours, broad-lanceolate, acute. Flowers in j>ani- 

 c!ed cyn '-s. Petals fimbi-iate, not crowMied. — White. If. ThrouL;h 

 the >umrv'''. So. Car. Dry woods. 2 — 3 feet. 



2. S. ■ • a'ta, (I'ursh.) Stem, simple, erect, pubescent, many from the 

 same rr Leaves bioad at the base, lanoeolate-ovate, acuminate, ;i- 

 nervrd FUmers in cytiiose panicles. Cahjx ovate. Petals 4-cleft; 

 lobes m ititid. No crown. — White. If. Car. and Geo. 2 — I feet. 



3. S "UINquevul'nera, {L.) Stem divided from the base, hairy, hir- 



